Bridget McConnell's 'abusive' marriage

Published on 19/09/2005 01:38

BRIDGET McConnell, the wife of the First Minister, was trapped in an abusive marriage to a 1970s rock star before she met Mr McConnell, according to a book published this week.

Hannah McConnell, Bridget's 26-year-old daughter, reveals for the first time in the biography about Mr McConnell how her mother suffered during her first marriage to Procol Harum star Richard Brown and what life is like at home with the First Minister.

Miss McConnell also explains how Mr McConnell became her adoptive father, how the family celebrate an annual "Adoption Day" in recognition of that decision and how the First Minister took the difficult decision not to have children of his own.

Lorraine Davidson's book, Lucky Jack, represents the first time one of the First Minister's close family members has gone public with intimate details of their lives. It is published later this week but today, in part two of an exclusive serialisation in The Scotsman, Miss McConnell reveals how she copes with being the First Minister's daughter and how her father reacted when he found out she had been going out with the disgraced TV star, John Leslie.

Miss McConnell is not afraid of dealing with the difficult times in her life, particularly her early years with her biological father, Mr Brown.

It has been known for some time that Mrs McConnell did not have an easy first marriage but this is the first time anyone involved has come forward to explain just how bad it was. Author Ms Davidson stated: "Hannah was just four years old when she realised her mum was being abused and it is hardly surprising she was traumatised by it."

Mr Brown refused to comment on the claims yesterday, but it is understood he rejects any suggestion of abuse.

Miss McConnell also explains how Mr McConnell's arrival changed her mother. She said: "She [Bridget] was happy, relaxed and enjoying herself. I had never seen her like that before. And here was a man who was such a contrast to the man we'd had in our lives before."

After Mrs McConnell divorced Mr Brown and married Mr McConnell, she, along with Hannah and Mark, Hannah's brother, settled down to life with their new father - a relationship which was crystallised by the courts when the future First Minister became the adoptive father of the two children.

It was at that stage that Mr McConnell decided not to have children of his own.

Ms Davidson explains the way in which Mr McConnell announced his decision to have a vasectomy and a circumcision, to the astonishment of work colleagues.

Miss McConnell also explains why she feels she has to live in London while her father is First Minister. She says: "Scotland is too much of a goldfish bowl. I just wish they would give people their privacy. My mum has her own life but everything she does is scrutinised and I find that very frustrating and unfair on her."