The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Mackay is not facing charges
POLICE PROBE: ‘Nothing to suggest that an offence has been committed’ over messages
Scotland’s former finance secretary Derek Mackay will not be charged over messages sent to a teenage boy that led to his resignation.
Police Scotland has finished its investigation into the 270 messages sent by Mr Mackay via Instagram and Facebook to the 16-year-old boy and concluded no crime was committed.
Mr Mackay resigned on the eve of the Scottish budget statement after the online conversations between him and the boy were published by the Scottish Sun.
Messages from the Renfrewshire North and West MSP reportedly called the boy “cute”, invited him to events and asked their conversations be kept secret.
A police spokeswoman said: “No reports of criminality has been made to Police Scotland.
“However, we have carried out inquiries and assessed all of the available information.
“Based on this, there is nothing to suggest that an offence has been committed.
“If anyone has any further information then they should contact Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency,”
The teenager was later reported as telling the Scottish Sun: “I was happy to speak to the police and will tell them everything that happened.
“I didn’t think what he was doing was a crime but I knew it was wrong and should be highlighted.”
The 42-year-old has not been seen at Parliament or attended constituency surgeries since the story emerged on February 5.
He was also suspended by the SNP but remains an MSP.