LAST week, I suggested the independence movement should take a deep breath, allow due process to run its course and turn the focus back on the big political issues that affect the lives of millions.

That flight of optimism crashed down to Earth sometime around midweek when Alex Salmond launched his crowdfunding appeal to help him take the Scottish Government to court over its handling of the sexual harassment complaints made against him. He had a perfect right to do so, but it guaranteed another tidal wave of frenzied media activity. Some Unionist commentators were lapping it up and Nicola Sturgeon was, no doubt, plunged into despair.

Who would want to have been in her shoes this past fortnight? She’s running a government, trying to navigate Scotland through some of the most tumultuous times in our history, and working tirelessly to defend our nation from the potentially catastrophic economic fall-out from a likely hard Brexit. The last thing in the world she needed right now was this crisis, sparked by alleged incidents in Bute House in December 2013.

Like tens of thousands of other pro-independence activists, I was up to my neck at the time fighting to win support for a Yes vote. I cannot possibly know what happened behind those closed doors. Nor do I know how exactly the internal investigation was conducted or whether or not the policy and procedure was applied fairly. And neither does anyone else who has not been closely involved.

So far, the First Minister has handled these events with impeccable judgment. Her statements defending her government and reminding us that no matter how popular or powerful someone might be, complaints should never be swept under the carpet were courageous, principled and selfless. These are the qualities that most people cry out for in their politicians. She cannot comment on the detail, regardless of whether she might have wanted to. But for a lot of people who piled in their hard-earned cash to Alex’s crowd funder, it seemed that suddenly Nicola was invisible. So were the two women who brought forward the complaints.

Scotland can be a disputatious country and over these last few years we’ve had a raging debate over our destiny. But, at its heart, the independence movement has always been about fairness and justice. Not just for a chosen few, but for everyone, regardless of their status, race, nationality, religion, politics or sex. Please let’s keep it that way. We’re trying to build a shining beacon for the rest of the world and break free from the cronyism that brought the once-respected Scottish Labour Party to its knees.

I have no difficulty with Alex Salmond’s friends standing by him. That is an honourable human act. I also understand why a big section of the independence movement hero-worships the former First Minister. People feel indebted to him for taking the SNP to power, then facing down the combined might of the media and the British state to bring Scotland so tantalisingly close to independence. Whatever happens in the future, that will always be an incredible legacy.

When we’re swept along by idealism, passion, commitment and belonging then it’s easy to hush any nagging doubts that may lie buried deep in our minds. But unthinking hero-worship can lead to the unfair maligning of others, and hatred towards women you’ve never met is the kind of reaction I’ve seen before.

I experienced that phenomenon in relation to another charismatic, high-profile male politician. Now I can speak with authority on that matter because I was there. I know the truth. Some readers may recall that I’ve moved on. To answer the question posed in the old cliche, if that person was on fire, yes, I would I would run for a bucket of water. But like others involved I also learned some tough lessons that will never leave me, about power and group psychology.

Some people can be so infatuated that they truly believe their hero can do no wrong. Some people, a minority thankfully, think that even if their hero has crossed an ethical or legal boundary, their achievements, talents and popularity should allow them immunity from the rules and laws that govern the rest of us.

The accusations against Salmond may very well prove to be patently absurd as he says, but some people are prepared to make gymnastic leaps of the mind and believe, without evidence, the most fantastical theories, while ignoring all other possibilities.

As a recently qualified solicitor, with a lot of life experience behind me, I also know that the simplest explanation may not be the truth. But I know enough to know when to resist jumping to conclusions based on the tiniest fragments of information, especially when it is unverified – as is the case here.

I’m not a member of the SNP and I have differences with the party on some key issues from the monarchy to Nato and important elements of economic policy. But in these momentous times it would be a tragedy for the whole independence movement, and for the cause of social progress across Europe, if this crisis was to escalate and allow the Unionists to return to power.

We can’t control the agenda of the mainstream media, and nor should we even try to control the legal process. But we can control our own behaviour. So, let’s genuinely reserve judgment on the Alex Salmond controversy until we are all in full possession of the facts, and support the First Minister in carrying out the vital work of steering Scotland through the stormy waters that lie ahead.