Glasgow priest convicted of sexually abusing four girls

A Glasgow clergyman has been convicted of sexually abusing 4 girls.

Father Neil McGarrity, who has been added to the enactment offenders register, targeted his victims astatine 2 churches arsenic good arsenic his parish home.

The 68-year-old was recovered blameworthy astatine Glasgow Sheriff Court of 4 intersexual assaults and 1 complaint of engaging successful intersexual activity.

The charges span from December 2017 to February 2020, with the girls aged betwixt 10 and 16.

Sheriff Vincent Lunny said the clergyman carried retired "touching of a intersexual nature".

He told the court: "I was impressed with the attraction the witnesses gave their grounds and were not exaggerating successful immoderate way

"I'm satisfied that the interaction and inappropriate touching was the opening of getting to thing much serious.

"I'm satisfied this was a azygous people of behaviour systematically pursued by you."

The tribunal heard from a miss who said she was repeatedly hugged by the clergyman erstwhile she was aged 10 oregon 11 astatine St Thomas' Church successful Riddrie.

The witnesser stated that McGarrity made her consciousness "uncomfortable". The miss added that helium stroked her limb and hugged her.

A 2nd miss told the tribunal that she phoned Childline astir the clergyman not agelong aft gathering him.

The miss said that connected abstracted occasions helium rubbed her waist, chest, limb and touched her leg.

A 3rd miss told the tribunal McGarrity enactment his limb astir her astatine St Bernadette's Church, successful Carntyre, arsenic good arsenic St Thomas'.

A 25-year-old pistillate said she spotted the clergyman and her younger sister successful a "prolonged embrace" astatine his parish home.

McGarrity told the tribunal helium was "stunned" to perceive of the allegations.

Sentencing was deferred, pending inheritance reports, until March.

McGarrity has been granted bail.