DAMIAN AND MARY MCCANN SHOCK DALKEITH WITH HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AND FILMING SCANDAL

In March 2021, a disturbing case involving Damien McCann and his wife Mary McCann unfolded in Dalkeith, Midlothian, revealing a series of heinous crimes centered around the abuse of a young girl. Damien McCann, aged 35 at the time, was convicted of raping a girl who was as young as ten years old, with the assault taking place at a residence in Dalkeith. The case was further compounded by the involvement of his wife, Mary McCann, aged 39, who was accused of encouraging her husband's sickening acts and actively filming the abuse. Tragically, Mary McCann took her own life in January 2020 before facing trial, leaving the full extent of her involvement to be inferred from court proceedings and recovered recordings.

Police investigations into the couple began when authorities raided their home in Dalkeith, initially in connection with a probe into indecent images. During the search, officers seized a mobile phone and a laptop, which revealed disturbing evidence. Damien McCann admitted to using the dark web to access extreme pornography, but the investigation soon uncovered far more sinister material. Officers discovered footage depicting the horrific abuse of the young girl, with Damien McCann being identified through distinctive tattoos visible in the videos. Prosecutor Angela Gray described how a female voice, identified as Mary McCann, could be heard encouraging her husband during the recordings.

Further analysis revealed a total of 20 vile video clips showing Damien McCann raping the girl, with the majority of these videos filmed by his wife. McCann confessed to the police that he and his wife shared these videos via WhatsApp and watched them together for sexual gratification. He also admitted to being sexually attracted to the girl and described her as appearing 'happy' during the assaults, a statement that underscores the disturbing nature of the abuse. The investigation also uncovered that Damien McCann had sexually assaulted another young child, including an incident where the child was sleeping. He pleaded guilty to these additional charges, which included possession and distribution of indecent images, as well as more than 200 videos and photographs of what was classified as 'extreme pornography,' including acts of bestiality.

Damien McCann's criminal record was noted to include previous violence, but he had no prior convictions for sexual offenses. Nonetheless, he was assessed as presenting a high risk of reoffending sexually. During a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Scott emphasized the severity of his crimes, stating, 'Child rape is always an extremely serious offence and here I consider there are factors which rendered your conduct even worse.' She highlighted the graphic and planned nature of the videos, which included musical soundtracks and titles added by McCann, as well as the sharing of images with his partner. The judge acknowledged that, had it not been for his guilty pleas, McCann could have faced a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

In addition to the rape and abuse charges, Damien McCann was convicted of assaulting a six-month-old baby girl at a house in Edinburgh between December 2018 and January 2019. During this incident, he placed his naked, erect penis beside the infant's face, with photographs taken of the act. The case against him was initiated after police received intelligence about indecent images being uploaded online. The subsequent search of his residence in Dalkeith uncovered the laptop and mobile phone containing the incriminating material. McCann admitted to viewing a significant amount of pornography, including material accessed via the dark web, and to the sexual abuse of the young girl, which he described as 'happy' in the videos.

Following his arrest, McCann was charged with multiple offenses, including the possession and distribution of indecent images, the creation of videos depicting extreme acts, and the sexual assault of a young girl and a baby. The court was also informed that he had over 200 videos and images of extreme pornography, some involving bestiality. His previous convictions for violence did not include sexual offenses, but he was now classified as a high risk of reoffending sexually. McCann was remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on March 24 in Edinburgh.

This case, which initially came to court in August 2019, was marked by the tragic death of Mary McCann, who was not present at the hearing due to her health. Her death on January 29, 2020, prevented her from facing justice, but the evidence recovered from the investigation continues to shed light on the extent of the abuse and the disturbing complicity involved.