Shropshire Star

Retired Telford vicar denies indecently assaulting teenager

A retired Telford vicar who accompanied British athletes to three Olympic Games has denied indecently assaulting a teenage girl.

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The Reverend Kevin McGarahan, 64, told a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court he "100 per cent" rejected claims that he had assaulted the girl.

McGarahan is on trial accused of indecently assaulting the 15-year-old girl at his former home in Woodside, Telford, where he was vicar from 1992 to 1996. He denies the charge.

Asked by prosecution barrister Matthew Dunford whether the victim was lying, McGarahan responded: "I am not sure she is lying. I think she has heard something, equated something, it is false memories, I don't know.

"In my personal opinion having dealt with real situations like that, it is false evidence appearing real. It may well have happened to her but not with me."

McGarahan, who while giving evidence revealed he had worked with British Olympians as a chaplain at three separate Olympics, told the jury ther charge was "not something I would do".

The prosecution claims the victim had attended his home in 1995 seeking the address of an exchange student who had visited the area as part of a mission.

Under cross examination McGarahan, who now lives in Cornwall, said he remembered the young man, but not the complainant.

He said: "He was a young man, about 18. He was the youngest member of the team, American or Canadian, I think he was American."

The prosecution alleges that McGarahan invited the girl in, made her a drink and asked her if she had a boyfriend, before asking her to dance and kissing her.

The girl made a complaint to the church but no action was taken until it was discovered by Barbara Gratton, a safeguarding officer at the Diocese of Hereford, who took over the post in 2014.

During what became heated exchanges McGarahan denied he would have invited a girl into the house alone.

The prosecution had also alleged that McGarahan left the area to work with the Army in 1996 because of his concerns about the complaint.

But the jury was told of a letter from the Bishop of Ludlow several months before the alleged offence which outlined discussions over leaving the post because of McGarahan's concerns about the education of his children.

McGarahan also questioned why the girl had not run to the police or the local community centre after leaving his home.

The trial continues.

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