November 2018

Scots Tae Kwon Do instructor repeatedly raped woman with mental capacity of five-year-old

A perverted Tae Kwon Do instructor repeatedly raped a 21-year-old woman with severe learning disabilities when he was supposed to be giving her private lessons.

Grandfather Edward Monaghan, 54, of 28 Athole Street, Helensburgh, raped the woman, who has a very low IQ and is assessed as having the mental capacity of a five or six-year-old child, at his home and at the car park at Craigendoran railway station.

The abuse took place on various occasions between October 2014 and January 2015.

Monaghan, a council bin man, was found guilty after trial at the High Court in Glasgow of raping the woman, who is incapable of giving consent.

The beast claimed that the woman was a willing participant and admitted they had carried out some sex acts, but denied having sexual intercourse with her.

In a special filmed hearing shown to the court the woman said: “I was frightened, but I did what he said. He was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.”

The court heard that Monaghan first met the woman when she was 16 and began teaching her the martial art.

He suggested to her parents, who trusted him, that she should have private lessons. He would collect her in his car from her home and take her either to his home or to a car park and rape her.

The crime came to light when the woman’s mother noticed her on Facebook having a chat with someone. When she saw the messages from Monaghan she contacted the police.

Monaghan claimed in court that he believed the woman, who was a virgin, was capable of giving consent.

Prosecutor Angela Gray said: “He knew that she had attended a special school. When the woman was examined by psychologists she identified herself as a child.

“Edward Monaghan said she seemed fine and claimed he thought she was helping out as volunteer with the learning disabled group he taught.

“Her parents handed her over to Edward Monaghan on the understanding she was going for a Tae Kwon Do lesson, instead of which he took her to a car park or his home for his own sexual gratification. He then took her back to her parents.

Monaghan sent the woman a lewd Facebook message and she replied: “I don’t understand,” and he then told her: “I know.”

He then messaged her saying : “You do have an innocent mind lol.”

The woman’s father described her as being very slow at learning, said she couldn’t go out herself and needed a 24-hour care package.

Her dad said: “I trusted that man. I really trusted him.”

The woman’s mother said: “You couldn’t send her to the shops for bread or sugar. She would have to have help. She has no sense of time and has no idea when dinner is going to be.”

Judge Robert Weir QC deferred sentence until next month and granted first offender Monaghan bail.

Judge Weir ordered Monaghan not to approach his victim and placed him on a curfew from 7pm to 7am each day. He also has to report daily to Helensburgh police station.

He told Monaghan: “I will continue your bail because you are a first offender and have complied with your bail conditions. It does not reflect on any sentence that may be imposed.”

Monaghan was placed on the sex offenders’ register.