NICOLA Sturgeon says she is looking forward to taking “head on some of the ridiculous suggestions that have been made” about the Alex Salmond affair. 

Speaking at the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing, the First Minister rejected accusations that she misled court over when she first became aware of allegations made against her predecessor.

Sturgeon is due to appear in front of the inquiry next Tuesday. 

READ MORE: Alex Salmond will not appear before Holyrood inquiry in row over evidence

The cross-party committee is investigating the Scottish Government’s flawed probe into allegations of misconduct made against Salmond by two civil servants.

He had the exercise set aside in January 2019, with a judicial review declaring it “unlawful” and “tainted by bias”. The Government’s botched handling ultimately cost the taxpayer half a million pounds.

At a later criminal case the ex-SNP leader was found not guilty on 12 counts of sexual assault.

One of the key planks of the committee’s investigations is over when the First Minister became aware of the investigation into Salmond. 

Shortly after the Government conceded the judicial review, Sturgeon told parliament that she became aware of the civil service probe when Salmond told her at a meeting in her Glasgow home on April 2, 2018.

However, it later emerged that she met Geoff Aberdein, Salmond’s former chief of staff, in her office on March 29, 2018.

In her evidence to the cross-party Holyrood inquiry, Sturgeon said she had forgotten that meeting. 

However, over the weekend, Sky News learned that Scottish Government lawyers had also told the Court of Session that the first meeting was in April. 

Referring to Sturgeon as "the interested party", court pleadings state that "she first became aware of the existence of an investigation into the petitioner's [Salmond] conduct in April 2018 when the petitioner made her so aware."

During Monday’s covid briefing, Sky News asked the First Minister if she had misled the court. 

“No, that's not the case. I would refute that absolutely,” she said. “And I look forward to getting the opportunity at long last, to appear before the committee of inquiry, I very much hope that will be next week, assuming they don't postpone it again. 

“And let me be very clear, I am willing to answer all and any questions put to me by that committee including on the topic that you have just asked me.

"And in addition to answering all and any questions I perhaps will also get the opportunity to take head on some of the ridiculous suggestions that have been made about this whole situation. Suggestions I know have caused many people a great deal of distress.”

The comments came just hours after the SNP's chief operating officer, Sue Ruddick, accused members of the committee of "bullying and intimidating" the women who complained about Salmond by trying to obtain and publish messages.

READ MORE: SNP chief accuses Alex Salmond inquiry MSPs of 'bullying' accusers

Salmond himself was due to appear before MSPs tomorrow, but has pulled out in a row over withheld evidence. 

His lawyers say the committee's unwillingness to discuss certain elements of his evidence prevents him from telling the whole truth.