Minister Accused Of Sex Attack In Manse

Dec 9 2007 By Derek Alexander And Charles Lavery

A KIRK minister has been arrested after being accused of a indecent assault in church house

A KIRK minister has been arrested after being accused of a gay sex attack in his manse.

The Rev Gary McIntyre spent two nights in police cells before being released.

He was quizzed over claims that he indecently assaulted a 37-year-old in the house. Inquiries are continuing and McIntyre, 40, is off work suffering "stress".

The allegations have left the tight-knit congregation at St Ninians Old Parish Church, in Stirling, stunned. McIntyre, a former temporary moderator of his local presbytery, is credited with revitalising St Ninians since being sent to the parish four years ago.

The alleged victim walked into a police station close to the church in the early hours of last Saturday.

McIntyre spent the weekend in police custody. He was freed on Monday morning while police continued their investigation.

A source said: "This man says he was in the manse as a guest and the allegation is that he made an advance towards him in the early hours of the morning.

"The man left the manse and went straight to the police to make a complaint. It's left the minister in quite a state. He has been told by his doctor not to answer his phone or emails and to take complete rest.

"Another minister was drafted in to the church last Sunday while he was in a cell just up the road.

They didn't tell the congregation, just that he was out of commission for that week.

"It would be such a shame if this ended his ministry because he really is one of the better young ministers in the country and was tipped for greater things."

The Rev Moira McCormack, who works in a parish in nearby Alloa, will take the service today.

The alleged incident has stunned the church hierarchy and members of the congregation.

McIntyre was assigned the parish in 2003 and was at the centre of a fund-raising campaign to restore an old tower at the church.

One parish member, who asked not be named, said: "He was like a breath of fresh air. There used to be a lot of trouble with young people hanging around the church disrupting services and he would go out and meet them head-on and tell them to move on.

"Everyone really likes him and it's so sad that he has been caught up in this. Our prayers are with him."

Another said: "People can't quite believe it. The first they knew of any trouble was when he didn't show up at church on Sunday.

"Gary is one of the most popular ministers we have had here. He is innocent until proven guilty and he will be backed by most people."

The Crown Office said: "A 40-year-old man was reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Following consideration of the police report, the accused was liberated pending further inquiries.

"It is not possible to speculate how long these inquiries will take or provide any further information in relation to this matter."

A Kirk spokeswoman said: "It would not be appropriate for either the individual concerned or the Church to comment while there is an ongoing investigation."

McIntyre could not be contacted for comment last night.

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