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Fury at Angelika priest sex claim

A priest's reported claims that he had sex with a student whose body was found at his church have been branded "outrageous" by the dead girl's sister.

The Angelika Kluk murder trial heard that Father Gerry Nugent spoke to police investigating the Polish woman's death about their relationship.

The High Court in Edinburgh also heard evidence from Martin Macaskill who was having an affair with Angelika, 23.

Peter Tobin, 60, a church handyman, denies raping and murdering her.

Angelika was staying at St Patrick's Church in Anderston, Glasgow, when she disappeared last September. Her body was discovered beneath its floor.

Angelika's sister Aneta, 28, told the court that the priest was a liar and a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who drank too much. Aneta told the trial that "devout Catholic" Angelika was "inspired" by the parish priest and that they were close friends.

Defence QC Donald Findlay challenged: "Did your sister at any time say anything to you directly to the effect that she had had, or was having, a sexual relationship with Father Nugent?" Aneta told the lawyer: "Never."

Mr Findlay said: "So it presumably came as a considerable shock to you to discover that Father Nugent was claiming he and Angelika had had at some point in time a sexual relationship?"

Aneta: "It is outrageous and untrue."
The court was shown a copy of the priest's alleged confession to the affair printed in the Mail on Sunday newspaper last month.

Mr Findlay asked Aneta: "Did you believe in your own mind Father Nugent was a liar when he said he had a sexual relationship?"

"Yes," Aneta said.

The trial heard that in the days leading up to Angelika's death Father Nugent became "cold" towards the girl and began "snapping" at her.

Mr Findlay suggested that was because he became aware of the relationship between Angelika and Mr Macaskill.

Mr Macaskill, a married man in his 40s who the court heard was having an affair with Angelika, took the stand on Thursday afternoon.

Full story at BBC Scotland News.