LINWOOD GRANDAD EWEN MURRAY SENT SEX TEXTS TO TEENAGE GIRL AND IS PLACED ON SEX OFFENDERS' REGISTER

In June 2022, a disturbing case emerged from Linwood involving Ewen Murray, a 59-year-old grandfather whose inappropriate actions led to serious legal consequences. Murray was found to have sent a series of explicit and sexual messages to a girl who was only 14 years old, a revelation that shocked the local community and prompted a court hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court.

According to court records, Murray, residing on Clippens Road in Linwood, engaged in this misconduct between June 21 and June 25, 2018. During this period, he repeatedly sent messages of a sexual and indecent nature to the young girl, with the intent of either obtaining sexual gratification or humiliating and distressing her. The messages were described as highly inappropriate, especially considering the girl’s age and the trust placed in Murray as a family member.

One particularly troubling aspect of the case was that Murray sent one of these explicit texts while his wife was in the bathroom, indicating a blatant disregard for boundaries and the seriousness of his actions. When confronted, Murray attempted to justify his behavior by offering various explanations, including claims of mental illness and intoxication. He also blamed the victim, referring to her as a “slut,” which further demonstrated his lack of remorse and understanding of the gravity of his misconduct.

During the court proceedings, Sheriff Eoin McGinty expressed strong disapproval of Murray’s attitude and his attempts to manipulate the case. The sheriff criticized Murray for not accepting responsibility and dismissed his claims of brain injury, stating that his actions did not seem consistent with someone who was heavily intoxicated at the times he sent the messages. Sheriff McGinty pointed out that Murray was capable of choosing the right moment to send these messages, including one at 11:30 am, which cast doubt on his claims of being so drunk that he could not control his actions.

Further complicating the case was the presence of Murray’s wife in court, which raised concerns about possible support or influence. The social worker’s report indicated that Murray denied any sexual nature to the messages, a stance that Sheriff McGinty found troubling given her support in court. The social worker also noted that Murray now accepted responsibility for the messages, although there was some disagreement about whether he truly understood their sexual intent.

In sentencing, the court considered Murray’s history and the fact that he had been on bail for three years without further offences. The judge decided against imposing a custodial sentence but warned Murray that any breach of the court’s orders could result in jail time. As part of his punishment, Murray was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years and was ordered to participate in the Moving Forward Making Changes programme for sex offenders. Additionally, he was required to complete 270 hours of unpaid community service and adhere to strict conduct requirements, including restrictions on deleting internet browsing history and having unsupervised contact with any children under 18 who are not related to him.

A review hearing was scheduled for July 29 to assess Murray’s compliance and progress. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about safeguarding minors and the importance of holding offenders accountable for their actions, especially when trust has been severely breached by someone in a position of familial or social authority.