JOSEPH TERRY'S SHOCKING ABUSE IN BALLACHULISH AND KINLOCHLEVEN CHURCHES LEADS TO SIX-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Ballachulish and Kinlochleven, Joseph Terry, a priest with a long-standing career spanning over four decades, was sentenced to six years in prison for the sexual abuse of four young girls across two Catholic churches. The allegations, which surfaced after years of silence and delayed reporting, reveal a pattern of predatory behavior that took place between 1963 and 1971, when Terry was serving as a parish priest.

Joseph Terry, aged 71 at the time of sentencing, was first confronted with the accusations three years prior by Roderick Wright, the disgraced Bishop of Argyll and the Isles. Wright’s own scandalous conduct—running off with a divorcee and fathering an illegitimate child—had already tarnished his reputation, but it was only after this revelation that the full extent of the abuse committed by Terry began to come to light. Despite the bishop’s knowledge of the allegations, Terry chose to retire quietly, and no immediate police complaint was made at that time.

The turning point came when one of Terry’s victims, now aged 41, decided to speak out. She revealed that she had confided in parish priest Roderick MacDonald and Bishop Wright about her abuse in 1994, but she had expressed her desire not to involve the police. It was only after the scandal involving Bishop Wright became public that she, along with another relative who also disclosed being abused by Terry, decided to report the matter to law enforcement authorities. This led to further investigations and the emergence of additional victims.

During the court proceedings, two more women came forward, bringing the total number of victims to four. Terry admitted to four charges of indecency involving these girls, who ranged in age from seven to 16 at the time of the abuse. The incidents spanned over eight years, with the earliest abuse occurring at St Mun’s Church in Ballachulish and the later incident at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Kinlochleven.

Prosecutor Peter Gray detailed the disturbing nature of the abuse. The first two victims, aged between seven and 11, were assaulted while attending services at St Mun’s Church. One girl was taken into the vestry, where Terry asked her to remove her underpants and showed her a book featuring photographs of women in childbirth. The other girl was also taken into the vestry, where Terry induced her to expose herself and then indecently assaulted her. Gray described the assault as lasting approximately five minutes, during which Terry was sweating and shaking, and concluded with the victim being told to get dressed and return to her pew.

The third victim, also between the ages of seven and 11, recounted her own experience of abuse by Terry within the church premises. The fourth victim, a 16-year-old girl, sought Terry’s blessing after a serious illness at the Kinlochleven church. Instead of a blessing, Terry made her remove her clothes and touched her inappropriately.

Throughout the sentencing, Terry showed no visible emotion as he was led into the courtroom. His defense lawyer, Alan Muir, acknowledged that Terry could offer no explanation for his actions, suggesting that some form of sickness or mental health issue might have been involved. Muir also highlighted that Terry had previously overcome a drinking problem in the 1980s and had worked with drug addicts since then.

In delivering the sentence, Lord Cullen, the Lord Justice Clerk, emphasized the deliberate and planned nature of Terry’s misconduct. He condemned the abuse as a gross breach of trust, especially given Terry’s role as a spiritual guide and community figure. The court ordered that Terry’s name be added to the sex offenders register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct.

One of the victims’ lawyers, Iain Smith, expressed a sentiment shared by many in the community, stating, “My client never wanted retribution—only justice. She now wishes to put this ordeal behind her and move forward with her life.” The case has left a lasting impact on the communities of Ballachulish and Kinlochleven, raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding children and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.