Nicola Sturgeon began her evidence to Holyrood Inquiry by apologising to the women who made complaints about Alex Salmond.
Referring to her Government’s unlawful investigation into the former First Minister, she accepted a “very serious mistake” was made and said sorry to the complainers.
A Holyrood committee is investigating the SNP Government’s handling of sexual misconduct complaints against Salmond by two women when he was First Minister.
Salmond took the government to court and it was agreed the internal probe, which destroyed his friendship with Nicola Sturgeon, had been unlawful and tainted by apparent bias.
The fiasco cost over £600,000 of public money.
Salmond gave evidence last week and accused his successor of misleading parliament over aspects of the scandal..
Giving her own evidence, she said “two women were failed and taxpayers’ money was lost, I deeply regret that.”
The First Minister said: “Although I was not aware of the error at the time I am the head of the Scottish Government so I want to take this opportunity to say sorry to the two women involved and to the wider public.”
