Alex Salmond arrested.

I haven't been following this closely. Can we assume that these alleged assaults were promptly reported at the time? And how much comes under the umbrella of sexual assault? Not long ago the term was used to cover touching someone's knee under the table at a dinner.

Sorry, allegedly, was in mind but not written. I fully appreciate that he is innocent until proved guilty.

I just had a look at Mumsnet. Quite a lack of caution there.

Thank you POGs for what you have posted about the need for a fair hearing and the dangers of comment on social media such as this.

I am very disappointed that one or two GNers are ignoring my earlier caution about the strictures of Scottish law so I am posting this link from the BBC in the hope it will moderate the comments.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-47001028

And please, my fellow Gransnetters, be aware that these pages will be closely monitored by prosecution and defence in a high profile case like this. Do you really want to see the editors in GN hauled up for contempt of court while the matter is sub judice (going through the Scottish legal process)?

It is fine to have views of course, but as there is no initial hearing in Crown Court - such as you might have in England - where much of the evidence is revealed in open court, there are all sorts of dangers if you express and publish those views ... which can be seen as an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

In extreme cases, this can lead to no trial. That would be unfair all round.

Time will tell.

One the previous thread, linked above, I said :
If AS is proved to be guilty, I will be very annoyed with him for creating such a public fuss about his innocence as well as for the original offences.
I hope he is proved to be innocent, however.

That is still my view since, if he is guilty but is dragging it out as is now happening, he is allowing far more damage to his party and the independence cause than if he said "It's a fair cop, gov."

If he is innocent, he has no option but to try to prove it.

(I hope his idea of innocence is not the usual predator's defence of saying it was consensual.)

Allegedly, Monica.

I can understand anyone being shocked by the news. I do not understand anyone getting upset about it, other than his close family or intimate friends, who had no idea what he was like.

When I express surprise re people being accused of crimes my DH always says 'you never really know anyone.' Not that we know famous people obviously. What is that old saying 'believe half of what you see and none of what you hear' (or it could be the other way around).

www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1251653-Allegations-against-Alex-Salmond

paddyann has made her position clear over the Alex Salmond scenario before by starting a thread herself so I don't think it possible paddyann will shift her view.

paddyann called it a ' stitch up' , gave money to Alex Salmonds ' Crowd Funding ' escapade so I can understand how deeply she feels about this latest debacle .

Ihttps://www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1251653-Allegations-against-Alex-Salmond don't think Paddyanne will ever

Paddyann exudes a Scottish nationalism out of every pore. Fine! but often at the expense of making anti English comments.

Yes, TerriBull. Frankly I am offended by Paddyann's hatred and vitriolic comments about the English, many of which I have read on GN over the years. If she were making these comments about anyone else, it would be considered racist. And she would be totally up in arms if others were posting horrible anti-Scottish comments. Why the nastiness? People are people, good and not so good, wherever they are from. Surely we must be more tolerant.

I may be being pedantic and if so I’ll shuffle off to the corner but I don’t equate admiring with looking upto

Good post Pogs

Paddyann is clearly upset by the news and why wouldn't she be ?
There are many that I knew in the past who were the same when it was found that a highly regarded " miracle worker " doctor turned out to be a loathesome predator.

Fortunately it's never been in my nature to look up to anyone no matter what their position in life------so no nasty surprises.

" I don't know anything Alex Salmond but the Guardian say, all the press have been cautioned to print only known, public facts. They list the charges."
----
" Innocent until proven."
----

2 posts I totally agree with. A pity the press, the media , the public , ' some ' Gransnet posters do not abide by that principal as a rule.

There are ' some ' who should be ashamed of what they have written or said over the Tory Peadophile Allegations that proved to be a PACK OF LIES and political spin by the likes of Labour MP Tom Watson. Those who in the media, public, politicians , Gransnet who found it all too easy to join the Kangaroo Court over the likes of Ted Heath, Leon Brittan, Harvey Proctor , Lord Bramall, Lord Mc Alpine .

Salmond is no different to any man or woman , he deserves to put his case to the court. He deserves a fair trial.

maryeliza54 Your words have summed up exactly how I feel better than I can. The actual charges have been like a body blow to me. On the one hand they make the whole thing even further beyond belief and on the other, if he is indeed guilty, then my own judgement of the man I know is even more skewed.

I must admit to giving some credence to Paddyan's (and many other people's) suspicion that there is something fishy going on, mainly because of the timing of the case and charges. It has certainly been the headline news, and has detracted from coverage of the latest Brexit shenanigans. It puts enormous pressure on Nicola at a crucial time in Scottish Politics.

My heart bleeds for Nicola and Moira Salmond who must be in total turmoil.

Yes, it's always those who you least expect and, Jalima, looks don't come into a guilty/innocent verdict when a crime has been committed----not so far as I'm concerned anyway.
And don't get me on the " pillars of society " etc., discussion.

It will be problem to find a truly impartial jury for his trial. He's such a marmite character and there's been so much media coverage of him.

Floradora my thoughts are with the women, I was thinking of paddyann, she greatly admires Salmon so the allegations must be a shock , her post aboutitv being a plot was irrational, such was the effects of the shock on her.

Paddyann exudes a Scottish nationalism out of every pore. Fine! but often at the expense of making anti English comments. For example on another thread she mentioned people she knows who lived in Wiltshire for umpteen years had neighbours who had never spoken to them. English obviously but when these people moved to the utopia that is Scotland there was an all encompassing glow of friendship that surrounded them. Naturally! People are people, some are friendly and some aren't, that scenario could have played out anywhere. Scotland doesn't have a monopoly on niceness, an English friend of mine who lives in Edinburgh has often been on the end of casual anti English sentiments from her own circle of friends. Possibly they forget she's not Scottish because she has acquired a slight Scottish accent since she has been living there for 30 or so years. However, when such instances occur she is quick to respond with "I am English and you are hurting my feelings" their response she tells me is "oh we didn't mean you" Seemingly just the other 54 million. Not everyone in England is stiff lipped, stuck up snob anymore than all Scots are raging religious sectarians.

As for Alex Salmond I have no preconceived ideas as to whether he is innocent or guilty that's up to the courts to decide.

Annie they would be hard to accept if there was just one s or two allegation but there are so many . Think of the poor victims.

I’ve never ‘hero worshipped ‘ anyone but throughout my life there are people that I have greatly admired -some well known figures that I’ve not known personally and others people well known to me. I’ve admired them for a variety of reasons. If someone you admire does something that disappoints or upsets you it can be very hard. If their actions undermine everything you ever knew or thought you knew about them and in particular if it involves deeply held moral and/or political views that are deeply rooted in your life, it must be very very hard indeed.

I do think these allegations are hard to accept. I certaintly don’t think anyone is perfect , we all have flaws .

I suppose I have never hero worshipped anyone. I instinctively look or assume the feet of clay, even in people I like and admire. Possibly because my feet are laden with clay.