FM says call to strip ex-Scotland rugby captain of MBE 'understandable' after abuse conviction

Scotland's archetypal curate has said a telephone to portion rugby subordinate Stuart Hogg of his MBE successful the aftermath of his home maltreatment condemnation is "reasonable and understandable".

John Swinney branded the erstwhile Scotland rugby captain's behaviour towards his estranged woman arsenic "incredibly disappointing".

He added: "I deliberation it's perfectly reprehensible for men to behave severely successful immoderate condition of beingness and 1 illustration of that volition beryllium home abuse."

Hogg, 32, last twelvemonth pleaded blameworthy to a azygous complaint of home abuse of his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, betwixt 2019 and 2024.

He admitted shouting and swearing, tracking her movements and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing successful nature.

A tribunal heard however helium berated Mrs Hogg for "not being fun" aft going connected drinking binges with his colleagues, and erstwhile sent much than 200 substance messages to her successful the abstraction of a fewer hours which caused her to endure a panic attack.

At his sentencing astatine Selkirk Sheriff Court connected Thursday, helium was handed a assemblage payback bid with 1 twelvemonth of supervision and a five-year non-harassment order.

He was earlier fined £600 for breaching bail conditions by repeatedly contacting Mrs Hogg erstwhile prohibited from doing so.

Sheriff Peter Paterson warned Hogg the condemnation was an "alternative to custody".

Following the tribunal case, SNP Westminster person Stephen Flynn said the sportsman "should beryllium stripped of his MBE".

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Former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs afloat backmost Hogg, who present plays for French nine Montpellier, was awarded the MBE for his services to rugby successful past year's New Year Honours list.

Mr Swinney said: "I deliberation that's a tenable and understandable telephone that Stephen Flynn has made."

One of his responsibilities arsenic a antheral archetypal minister, Mr Swinney said, was to supply "leadership" for men to "behave amended successful our society".

Mr Swinney, however, refused to beryllium drawn connected whether Hogg's condemnation was excessively lenient.

"Please don't instrumentality it from maine that I'm dismissing your concerns. I conscionable don't deliberation it's truly due for the archetypal curate to remark astir sentencing decisions," helium said.