Sturgeon says she was deceived, betrayed and lied to over Murrell embezzlement

Sturgeon says she was deceived, betrayed and lied to over Murrell embezzlementJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSimon Smith,BBC Scotland News, in Listowel, County KerryandJames Delaney,BBC Scotland NewsPA MediaNicola Sturgeon made her first public appearance since Murrell's guilty plea at a literary festival in IrelandNicola Sturgeon has said she is "coming to terms with being married to someone she did not know" in her first public appearance since estranged husband Peter Murrell admitted embezzling money from the SNP.The former first minister told an audience at a book festival in Ireland she had been "deceived, betrayed and lied to" by the party's former chief executive.Murrell pleaded guilty to the embezzlement of £400,310.65 from the SNP between 12 August 2010 and 19 October 2022 at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of Murrell's crimes and was was not charged after a police investigation.Murrell used the funds to purchase items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome.He was remanded in custody following the plea and could face a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on 23 June.An examination of facts surrounding the case is due to be heard on 2 June.Swinney rejects call for Holyrood inquiry into MurrellOperation Branchform: Timeline of SNP finance probeSturgeon appeared at the event at the Listowel Arms Hotel in County Kerry in conversation with author Andrew O'Hagan to promote her memoir, Frankly.She told the audience it had been the "worst week of her life," adding she had dealt with the fallout from Murrell's plea in the public gaze.She previously described the day she was arrested as part of Operation Branchform - the name of the Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances - as the "worst day of her life".Sturgeon was questioned by police as part of the probe, but was released without charge. She...