Telford vicar indecently assaulted girl, 15, court told
A vicar indecently assaulted a 15-year-old girl by kissing her at his home while working at a church in Telford more than 20 years ago, a court heard.
Reverend Kevin McGarahan, now 64 and retired from the clergy, was arrested by police in 2014.
The vicar, who insisted on being called "Rev Kev", was the vicar of Woodside from 1992 to 1996.
The defendant, now living in Cornwall, is standing trial and denies indecently assaulting the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in July 1995.
Opening the case against him today, prosecuting counsel Mr Matthew Dunford said: "The prosecution case against him is that in 1995, some 20 years or so ago, when he was still a vicar, he indecently assaulted a girl who was 15 years old by kissing her.
"He did that when she had gone to visit his home seeking the address of an exchange student who had been visiting the area."
The jury was told the woman, who is now 35, took part in a video interview with police in November 2014 and McGarahan was arrested the following month.
"He denied any indecent assault had taken place," Mr Dunford told the court.
"He said he didn't know the girl, although he may have seen her.
"The prosecution say the reality is that the defendant is guilty of this offence. The girl has got no reason to lie about this defendant.
"He was in a position of responsibility and trust, and the reality is he abused the trust that was placed in him by behaving in the way he did towards her."
The trial continues.
