KEVEN MCGARAHAN SHROPSHIRE Telford VICAR CONVICTED OF INDECENT ASSAULT ON SCHOOLGIRL
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Telford Rapist
In a case that has spanned nearly two decades, Reverend Keven McGarahan, a 64-year-old retired vicar from Telford, has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a teenage girl. The incident took place in 1995 at McGarahan's residence in Telford, Shropshire, and only came to light after years of silence and delayed investigations.
Details of the case emerged after the girl, then 15 years old, visited McGarahan’s home intending to see an American exchange student. However, by the time she arrived, McGarahan had already left the premises. During her visit, the girl recounted that McGarahan began to question her about her experiences with boys. He then offered to teach her how to dance, but the situation quickly escalated when he held her hips and forcibly kissed her, forcing his tongue into her mouth. The girl described feeling frozen in place during the assault, unable to escape, and later ran home in distress, locking herself in the bathroom and crying as she brushed her teeth.
Following the incident, the girl confided in her mother, who subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the church where McGarahan served. Despite this, no immediate action was taken at the time, and police were not involved. The complaint was filed in 1998, but it was not until 2014, during a broader review of safeguarding records by the Church of England, that the case was revisited. The church’s review uncovered her original statement, prompting authorities to reopen the investigation.
Jurors at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that McGarahan, known colloquially as “Rev Kev,” had left the Diocese of Hereford in 1996, and the church officials had previously referred the case to his former employers. The Diocese of Hereford issued a statement indicating that all parties involved had requested no further action beyond speaking to McGarahan. The case is scheduled for sentencing on June 3, with McGarahan currently on bail pending the court’s decision.
As the legal proceedings continue, this case highlights the long-lasting impact of abuse allegations and the importance of safeguarding measures within religious institutions, especially when allegations surface after many years of silence.
Details of the case emerged after the girl, then 15 years old, visited McGarahan’s home intending to see an American exchange student. However, by the time she arrived, McGarahan had already left the premises. During her visit, the girl recounted that McGarahan began to question her about her experiences with boys. He then offered to teach her how to dance, but the situation quickly escalated when he held her hips and forcibly kissed her, forcing his tongue into her mouth. The girl described feeling frozen in place during the assault, unable to escape, and later ran home in distress, locking herself in the bathroom and crying as she brushed her teeth.
Following the incident, the girl confided in her mother, who subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the church where McGarahan served. Despite this, no immediate action was taken at the time, and police were not involved. The complaint was filed in 1998, but it was not until 2014, during a broader review of safeguarding records by the Church of England, that the case was revisited. The church’s review uncovered her original statement, prompting authorities to reopen the investigation.
Jurors at Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that McGarahan, known colloquially as “Rev Kev,” had left the Diocese of Hereford in 1996, and the church officials had previously referred the case to his former employers. The Diocese of Hereford issued a statement indicating that all parties involved had requested no further action beyond speaking to McGarahan. The case is scheduled for sentencing on June 3, with McGarahan currently on bail pending the court’s decision.
As the legal proceedings continue, this case highlights the long-lasting impact of abuse allegations and the importance of safeguarding measures within religious institutions, especially when allegations surface after many years of silence.