SCOTLAND
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald
Published: 28 Jun 2014
He helps man who claims he was gang raped
A KILWINNING priest has urged any victims of abuse at a Catholic retreat in Ayrshire to come forward after a man alleged he was raped by clergy there.
The man who claims he was brutally gang raped by priests at Coodham House when he was only nine or 10 was due to make a statement to police this week. Father Gerard Magee, who has supported the man, has been demanding answers from the Passionist Order who ran Coodham in Symington, South Ayrshire, in 1960 – the year of the alleged crime.
Father Magee, of St Winning’s Church, said: “People have been reluctant to come forward – they thought no one would believe them. Sadly, that was the case – children who came forward were likely to get the belt. But that is not the case anymore.
“It is a crime to abuse children. People from all over the central belt in Scotland visited Coodham.”
Father Magee said the 65-year-old Motherwell man approached him for help after he watched a BBC documentary about Catholic abuse last year. The alleged victim said he visited Coodham – then known as Fatima House – with his father and friend when priests asked if he could help with a party.
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