Sturgeon making Salmond claims because he cannot defend himself, niece says
Ms Sturgeon made several claims about her predecessor in her memoir Frankly, which was published last week.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon made several claims about Alex Salmond in her new book (Jane Barlow/PA)
She accused Mr Salmond of creating conspiracy theories over sexual harassment allegations and said he did not read the independence white paper before the referendum in 2014.
Ms Sturgeon also said Mr Salmond 'wanted to destroy me' and would have rather seen the SNP fail than succeed without him.
Appearing on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Hendry criticised Ms Sturgeon.
She said: 'The way I see it is if my uncle was here today, these things would not be being said.
'I believe they are being said because he's not here to defend himself, as he would have done with every fibre of his being.'
Alex Salmond died last year (Jane Barlow/PA)
Asked what she thought had motivated Ms Sturgeon to make the claims now, Ms Hendry said: 'I'm unsure. I think there's been a few people questioning that.
'But I think the timing of these things being said – there's been a number of years where they've not been said, that these things could have been said, and the timing of it now, where she's released the book and is looking to publicise that.
'I think many people have thought that could be the case.'
In her book, Ms Sturgeon said Mr Salmond had never produced a 'shred of evidence' that he was a victim of a conspiracy, adding that he admitted to her the substance of one of the complaints against him.
A judicial review into the Scottish Government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond found the investigation was tainted by apparent bias while a court cleared him of all charges.
Alex Salmond's niece Christina Hendry, Alba Party chair Tasmina Ahmed-Skeikh and Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill (Jane Barlow/PA)
Ms Hendry said: 'The bottom line is he was cleared in the highest court in Scotland and I think I'm unsure as to why it's being brought up.
'I do think there were people conspiring against him, and I think there's the truth will still come out.
'There are things to still come out in the public, and I think there are many people who should be thinking about their actions.'
Ms Hendry added that her family was united in pursuing legal action against the Scottish Government over its botched harassment probe.
In December, she announced she would run to be an MSP in one of Mr Salmond's former seats.
Ms Hendry said she would contest the Banffshire and Buchan Coast seat for Alba that her uncle had planned to campaign in before his death in North Macedonia in October.
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Names of the 31 accused witches of West Dunbartonshire 1624 Jonet MacKinley (executed) Marioun MacLintock (executed) Marioun Fallisdaill (executed) John Taylor (unknown outcome) 1628 Jonet Boyd (executed) Marioun MacLintock (unknown outcome) Janet Weill (unknown outcome) 1629 Janet Donald (executed) Jonet Neill (executed) Margaret Hunter (unknown outcome) 1630 Janet Mitchell (unknown outcome) 1632 Lord John Colquhoun (absconded) Thomas Carlipis (unknown outcome) 1643 Bessie Bargillie (executed) 1649 Margaret Corruith (executed) Jonet Davisonne (executed) Agnes McKen (executed) 1650 Jonet Patersone (executed) Margaret McMurich (executed) Jonet McClintock (unknown outcome) Jonet Colquhoun (executed) Margaret McInlay (executed) Jonet Ewing (executed) Jonet Stewart (unknown outcome) 1656 John McWilliam (executed) 1671 Jonet Howat (unknown outcome) 1677 Margaret Wright (executed) Issobell Laing (executed) Jonet Munn (executed) Margaret Paterson (executed) 1697 Margaret McKillope (executed)
