A rape charity has blasted an ally of Alex Salmond for “threatening” the anonymity of the women who accused him of sexual assault.
Mark Hirst, a former SNP candidate, also said there is “going to be a bit of a reckoning” when the Coronavirus pandemic is over.
Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland said: “These comments are sinister, threatening and to identify the women would be illegal.
“This behaviour should be condemned in the strongest possible terms by all parties — it serves no-one and damages an already fractured and fraught public conversation.”
Salmond was acquitted at Edinburgh High Court after nine women accused him of sexual assault.
After the trial, the females released a statement expressing their “devastation” at the verdict.
A court order issued by trial judge Lady Dorrian means it is a criminal offence for anyone to publish the identities of the women.
In a YouTube video, Hirst said: “I suspect very strongly that as this rumbles on, that precious anonymity that they’ve sought will not be continued.
“Because these women, and not just these women, some of the people involved in this, are senior members of the Scottish Government, senior members of the SNP.”
He continued: “And they’ve been involved in this active collusion to try and destroy Alex Salmond’s reputation and there’s not a cat’s chance in hell that they’re going to get away with that.
“So they’re going to reap a whirlwind, no question about it.
“As soon as this virus emergency is out the way, then there’s going to be a bit of reckoning takes place. We’ll clear out the soft independence supporters which are currently leading the party, that’s why we’ve seen no movement in nearly six years.”
Hirst has worked for several SNP MSPs over the years and worked for Russian state news agency Sputnik. He also contributed to programmes for The Alex Salmond Show, broadcast by Russian state broadcaster RT.
Salmond’s supporters say the allegations against the former First Minister were part of an internal SNP conspiracy.
After being acquitted, Salmond said “certain evidence” would be revealed once the coronavirus crisis is over.
