Nicola Sturgeon has publicly addressed the emotional and personal impact of the criminal case involving her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, following his admission of embezzling funds from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Speaking at a literary event in Ireland while promoting her memoir, Sturgeon said she felt “deceived, betrayed and lied to”, and revealed she is struggling to come to terms with the revelations.Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to embezzling £400,310.65 from the party over a period spanning from August 2010 to October 2022.The funds were reportedly spent on luxury items including jewellery, cosmetics, vehicles and a motorhome.

Sturgeon stated that she had no knowledge of the criminal activity and reiterated that she had not been charged following a lengthy police investigation known as Operation Branchform.

She described the past week as the most difficult period of her life, acknowledging the public scrutiny surrounding both her personal situation and the ongoing legal proceedings.

She also suggested she may need professional support to process the emotional toll, emphasising that while she considers herself resilient, the circumstances have been extremely challenging.

The former First Minister addressed public questions about how she was unaware of the spending, explaining that she and Murrell both had substantial incomes and that she did not closely scrutinise household purchases.She indicated that she intends to provide a fuller account once legal processes have concluded.Murrell remains in custody and is awaiting sentencing, with further court proceedings scheduled in the coming weeks.

Political figures, including First Minister John Swinney, have rejected calls for a public inquiry, citing the extensive police investigation already carried out.