Freeman: ‘Verdict vindicates Women for Indy’

THE founder of Women for Independence Jeane Freeman has called for an apology from the people in the wider Yes movement who criticised her and colleagues for reporting Natalie Mcgarry to the police.

The former health secretary declined to name names, just saying that there was “unacknowledged misogyny” directed towards the group.

After details of the police investigation emerged in the press, some of Mcgarry’s colleagues in Westminster briefed journalists that it was “all a misunderstanding.”

It is also understood one Scottish Government minister made clear they were unhappy with the decision to go to the authorities.

Even as Mcgarry’s first trial date appeared in 2019, one SNP MP is understood to have kept in touch with her suspended colleague, advising her over Whatsapp on what dress would be most suitable for court.

Speaking to The Herald shortly after the verdict, Ms Freeman said she felt vindicated and relieved.

She said: “It’s been around seven years or so hanging over a number of people. And that’s hard and it’s been upsetting and distressing for folk throughout that time.

“I don’t think at any point during that period, any one of us who were part of the decision to hand the matter over to the police regretted at any point that we had done so or believed that we were wrong to have done so.

“And I think the conduct of the trial and the verdict of the jury vindicates that we were right to say that the trust that people across Scotland had put in Women for

Independence, needed to be honoured by answers being sought as to what had happened to the money they’ve given us.”

Ms Freeman said the long wait for a trial had taken its toll on some of the women involved.

“It has been very difficult. You’ve got to remember that many of the people we’re talking about are not in political parties.

“They are straightforwardly ordinary decent women who got involved in Women for Independence because they believed in the organisation.”