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Forth 2 radio presenter priest under investigation after two women accuse him of lewd behaviour
By Paul O'hare
FORMER agony uncle Andy Monaghan, 72, has been banned from his Midlothian parish while the historic claims - which date back more than 36 years - are investigated. A PRIEST who once worked as a radio agony uncle is under investigation after two women accused him of lewd behaviour. Father Andy Monaghan, 72, was banned from his Midlothian parish by the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh while the historic claims - which date back more than 36 years - are investigated. Police were alerted after the women complained that the former radio presenter behaved inappropriately towards them when they were young adults. Prosecutors are now considering whether he should face charges. A Crown Office spokesman said: “The procurator fiscal received a report relating to incidents involving a 72-year-old man said to have occurred in Edinburgh and Falkirk between October 1978 and December 1983. “The report is under consideration.” Monaghan was suspended by the church when the complaints were made in 2011. He is not allowed to say mass or carry out pastoral duties at his parish in Pathhead, Midlothian but is believed to be on full pay. A spokesman for the Archdiocese said: "Father Monaghan has been on administrative leave and away from parish ministry. “We are, of course, cooperating fully.” Monaghan was an agony uncle on Forth 2's late night Open Line which ran for 30 years until it was axed in 2009. He was famed for telling listeners to call him “Andy”, and controversially gave advice on contraception and abortion. Traditional Catholic priests launched a campaign to have him taken off the air in 2000, accusing him of “evil work”. Father Monaghan said at the time that he was "saddened" by the campaign, and he was given the backing of senior figures in the Church, including disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien and Monsignor Tom Connelly, the then spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland. Fans left messages of support on Forth's Facebook page after the weekly show, which was broadcast between midnight and 2am on a Saturday, was axed. Police Scotland confirmed officers have concluded their investigation and the matter is now in the hands of the procurator fiscal.
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