I may have named Salmond accusers on train, KC admits
ALEX Salmond’s former lawyer has admitted that while travelling on a train he may have mentioned the names of some of the women who accused the former First Minister of sex crimes.
Gordon Jackson, KC, stepped down as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates after footage of him emerged apparently discussing the case and identifying complainers, whose identities are protected by a court order.
He was later handed a five-month courtroom ban by the faculty for professional misconduct but launched an appeal which was heard before Lord Burns yesterday.
Mr Jackson, 74, argued that even though he may have used the names while talking to a woman on the Edinburgh-Glasgow train during the trial, it had not been proven he was capable of being overheard.
His lawyer, Alistair Duncan, KC, told the hearing in Edinburgh this meant Mr Jackson had not ‘publicly’ named them.
Mr Jackson referred himself for investigation after the allegations were published in the Sunday Times in 2020. Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, representing the Salmond complainers, also raised a complaint against Mr Jackson. Mr Salmond was acquitted of a series of sex charges after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020.
Video footage was published of Mr Jackson which purported to show him discussing the case, but Mr Duncan said it was ‘manipulated’ and ‘enhanced’ and it had not been proven anyone else on the train was capable of hearing what he said.
The KC said Mr Jackson had ‘never challenged the proposition that he had used the names’ of complainers, but disputed the claim someone could have heard the names as a result of overhearing him. He said: ‘There’s simply no evidence on that point and the complaint should have been dismissed.’
Kenny McBrearty, KC, lawyer for Ms Brindley, said there was an ‘air of unreality’ about Mr Jackson’s version of events and no ‘reputable’ advocate would have risked another passenger overhearing the names of any of the Salmond complainers. Lord Burns, who leads a sixmember appeals panel, said a judgment would be issued at
a later date.