MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE AFTER HORRIFIC CAMPAIGN OF SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENCES AGAINST HIS WIFE.
A woman who was raped hundreds of times by her husband, Brian McTaggart, has spoken of her relief after he was sentenced to life in prison.Brian McTaggart, who was described during his trial as being “possessed by the devil,” was sentenced yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow for a horrific campaign of sexual and domestic violence offences.
He was given a lifelong restriction order and will serve a minimum of eight years before being considered for release.
His former wife, Kathleen McMurchie, age 53, who was raped approximately 900 times by him, waived her right to anonymity following the sentence.
Kathleen recounted that she was raped almost daily for six years, including shortly after she had given birth.
He also dropped a hairdryer into her bath and kicked her down a flight of stairs.
After her attacks, McTaggart would offer apologies and buy her flowers.
Another victim described being attacked while she was sleeping, waking up to find him saying “You belong to me.
I can do anything I want.” The crimes occurred mainly in Dundee between 1980 and 2001, and he was convicted of 23 offences in September of the previous year.
During the trial, Kathleen revealed that McTaggart preyed on 18 victims and his offences spanned over two decades, including indecent assaults on girls and boys, as well as physical abuse of women and teenagers.
Many victims were beaten into submission, with one woman being choked and having her head plunged under water.
McTaggart also twisted a teenage girl’s nipples and physically abused women and teenagers.
Despite numerous crimes, charges of raping a fourth woman and a 30-year-old man were not proven.
Kathleen urged other victims to come forward, stating, “I found the police were kind to me and easy to talk to.
I would encourage women to come forward and not to continue to suffer like I did.”
