NEIL MCGARRITY AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN GLASGOW
A disgraceful case involving a priest who sexually assaulted four young girls has culminated in the court's decision to release Neil McGarrity, 68, from any custodial sentence, despite the serious nature of the allegations.McGarrity, who has served as a priest for over three decades and hails from the Maryhill area of Glasgow, carried out these reprehensible acts at two different churches located within the city, as well as at his own parish residence.
The court proceedings painted a disturbing picture of his misconduct, revealing that he repeatedly engaged in inappropriate physical contact with the victims.
Among the allegations were instances where McGarrity was found to have played “footsie” beneath the table during church gatherings with one girl, and on another occasion, was caught in a prolonged embrace with a different girl.
These actions occurred in various settings, including church premises and private spaces at his residence.
One of the victims, a girl who was only 10 or 11 years old at the time, recounted to the court her experiences at St Thomas' Church situated in the Riddrie district of Glasgow.
She told the jury that McGarrity would often hug her repeatedly during her visits and described feeling 'uncomfortable' under his attention.
She further revealed that he referred to her as his “favourite” and explicitly instructed her not to disclose the encounters to anyone.
Because of her young age and fear, she chose not to inform her parents and kept what happened to herself, allowing the distress to bottleneck over time.
In addition to these early incidents, the girl testified that in 2020, she was summoned to McGarrity’s parish home.
Once there, he asked her to sit on a spinning chair and proceeded to cuddle her, instructing her to put her head on his shoulder—a gesture that distressed her further.
She described instances of being stroked on her arm and hugged tightly, actions which she felt uncomfortable about and wished to leave but was unable to do so immediately.
Another girl, who also appeared in court, disclosed that she had considered contacting Childline shortly after meeting McGarrity, because she found his behavior overly close and unusual.
However, she admitted she initially did not see it as problematic, as she liked him.
Further allegations included McGarrity placing his hand around her waist and rubbing it, as well as touching her chest and arm during a Christmas Eve service at St Thomas'.
She also claimed that he kept his hand on her waist and massaged her lower back, similar to a massage, and that he touched her on the leg on two separate occasions while driving.
A third female victim, only 13 at the time, recounted that McGarrity would play with her hair and touch her face during her visits.
She stated that he was overly familiar, often looking at her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable, and that he put his arm around her.
She confided in her mother about his actions but chose not to tell others, fearing judgment.
The incidents reportedly took place at both St Bernadette's and St Thomas' churches.
A woman, now 25, provided additional perspective during the trial, recalling an incident where she observed McGarrity with her younger sister.
She described how she found the priest with his arms around her sister's waist and vice versa, in a prolonged embrace that she considered inappropriate.
She further explained that her sister’s reaction appeared to be one of innocent affection, similar to how a young girl might respond to a person she admires or is attracted to.
Throughout the trial, McGarrity appeared to demonstrate some awareness of the seriousness of the allegations, describing himself as “stunned” when confronted with the accusations.
When questioned by the prosecutor, he acknowledged that there was some truth to what was said, admitting that there were things he did or did not do that aligned with the claims.
The court subsequently sentenced McGarrity to perform 250 hours of unpaid community work, and placed him under a three-year period of supervised release.
Additional restrictions included a nine-month tagging order, which mandated that he remain indoors from 7 pm to 7 am during this period.
Moreover, he was registered as a sex offender for five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and compliance.
This case has once again cast a shadow over the safety of children within community institutions and has underscored the importance of vigilance and reporting of inappropriate behavior by figures of authority.
The victims' courage in coming forward against such a revered figure highlights the ongoing need for safeguarding measures within religious and community settings across Glasgow and beyond.
