COATBRIDGE SEX OFFENDER JAMES GALLOGLEY SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE

In August 1997, a shocking revelation emerged from the town of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, as James Gallogley, a man once regarded as a respected member of the community, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young girls.

Gallogley, aged 66 at the time, was known locally as a retired lorry driver and a devout church elder who actively participated in Sunday school activities. To many, he was a pillar of moral integrity, a man with a happy marriage and four children of his own. However, beneath this facade, Gallogley engaged in a 12-year reign of depravity, abusing five young girls in ways that shocked the community and the nation.

The abuse was particularly disturbing because Gallogley used religious rhetoric to justify his actions. One of his victims recounted how he held a Bible and told her that what he was about to do was what God wanted. He reportedly told her, “It is God’s way,” as he committed acts of sexual abuse. The four girls, now grown women, kept their painful secret for years, suffering in silence until recent events brought their trauma to light.

The case came to a head when Gallogley was accused of molesting another young girl earlier this year. The police investigation was initiated after a 14-year-old girl confided in her mother that Gallogley had touched her in a tower block lift. Gallogley was promptly arrested and admitted to the incident during police questioning.

Following his arrest, concerns grew among the community’s parents, especially those whose daughters had previously visited Gallogley. Investigations revealed that four girls, now adults, had been abused by him during their childhood. One of these victims, now 19, described how Gallogley had interfered with her between the ages of seven and 13, attempting to have sexual intercourse and offering her money to keep quiet. Her family faced a harrowing ordeal, with her family members having to persuade her to continue living after she was overwhelmed by depression and suicidal thoughts.

Another sister, also aged 19, recounted how Gallogley had simulated sex with her and kept her photograph in his wardrobe, which was later recovered by police. She described how he would hold a Bible and threaten her, insisting she would not be allowed to leave unless she complied with his demands, claiming it was “God’s way.” She is now suffering from panic attacks and is under medical treatment.

The remaining two sisters, aged 28 and 27, also testified that Gallogley had abused them in his home. One of them was also assaulted in his lorry and car. The details of these abuses painted a picture of a man who exploited his position of trust and religious authority for his own depraved purposes.

During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, prosecutor Alan Turnbull QC outlined the extent of Gallogley’s crimes. Gallogley faced 11 charges of child sex offenses, including two counts of attempted rape. The charges stemmed from incidents spanning over a decade, with police investigations revealing a pattern of predatory behavior.

The case was triggered when Gallogley was questioned after the 14-year-old girl’s disclosure. He admitted to the incident, and subsequent inquiries uncovered the full extent of his abuse. The community was left in shock as details emerged of how a man revered as a church elder had used his religious standing to manipulate and harm vulnerable children.

In delivering his sentence, Lord Cameron described Gallogley’s conduct as “of a kind which cannot be properly described,” emphasizing the severity and depravity of his actions. Gallogley’s wife has since initiated divorce proceedings, further highlighting the personal and social fallout from his crimes.

As Gallogley begins his prison term, the community of Coatbridge is left to grapple with the betrayal of trust and the lasting scars inflicted by his actions, which have shattered the image of a man once seen as a moral leader.