ALLAN MCSHANNON FROM COATBRIDGE CONVICTED OF SEXUAL OFFENCES IN EDINBURGH COURT

In a landmark case that has spanned decades, Allan McShannon, a man originally from Coatbridge, has been found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences committed against children over 40 years ago. The lengthy legal proceedings culminated in a conviction that highlights the enduring pursuit of justice for victims of such heinous crimes.

It was revealed during the trial that McShannon, now aged 58, carried out a series of disturbing assaults on two young victims at various addresses within Coatbridge between the years 1975 and 1980. The case gained renewed attention when one of the victims, who has since passed away, contacted police in July 2017, prompting a fresh investigation into the long-ago crimes.

The victim, who was in his mid-40s at the time of speaking to detectives, recounted how McShannon had abused him during the winter of 1976, when he was just a young boy. His detailed testimony played a crucial role in reigniting the case, leading authorities to identify and locate a woman in her 50s who also suffered abuse at the hands of McShannon. This woman bravely came forward, sharing her own harrowing experiences of being raped and sexually assaulted by McShannon when she was a girl.

Following these revelations, police in Scotland arrested McShannon, who was then living in Ayrshire, and formally charged him with multiple counts of sexual misconduct. Throughout the proceedings, McShannon maintained his innocence, denying all allegations. However, on the day of the verdict, a jury found him guilty of one count of rape, two counts of attempted rape, and an additional charge of sexual assault.

Judge Lord Pentland, presiding over the case at the High Court in Edinburgh, ordered McShannon to be remanded in custody pending further reports on his character. In his remarks, Lord Pentland emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “You have been convicted of a total of four charges detailing serious sexual offences. The assaults which you have been convicted of are grave and disturbing. A custodial sentence in this case is inevitable. In my opinion, the public interest in this case demands for you to be remanded in custody.”

The court also heard that the initial contact from the first victim, who has since died, was instrumental in bringing the case to light. His police statement was read aloud during the trial, revealing that McShannon was several years older than his young victim at the time of the assault in 1976. The victim expressed his feelings of helplessness, stating, “I remember I didn’t want him to do it,” and admitted that he had kept silent about the abuse for many years due to fear and health issues, only summoning the courage to come forward recently.

Further investigations led police to a woman living in Lanarkshire, who also claimed to have been repeatedly targeted by McShannon in the mid-1970s. She recounted that he attempted to rape her multiple times and succeeded in raping her sometime between 1979 and 1980. Officers approached her at her home in January of the previous year, and she was visibly shocked to learn that another victim had come forward with allegations against McShannon. She revealed that she had confided in a relative about her abuse at the time, but her concerns were initially dismissed. She also shared an emotional reaction upon hearing about the other victim’s experience, exclaiming, “the b*****d’s done it to somebody else,” and breaking into tears.

During the trial, McShannon’s defense lawyer, John Keenan, highlighted that his client denied all allegations and questioned the accuracy of the victims’ testimonies. The court heard that McShannon had no prior convictions, and since he was a first-time offender, the prosecution requested a deferment of sentencing to allow for further reports. Despite this, Lord Pentland decided to remand McShannon in custody and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 6 at the High Court in Edinburgh, where McShannon will face the consequences of his actions.