Revealed: Actor Matthew McVarish tells how he was sexually abused as child by convicted paedophile uncle Terry McMonagle

By Marion Scott
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/revealed-actor-matthew-mcvarish-tells-1794566

 

Revealed: Actor Matthew McVarish tells how he was sexually abused as child by convicted paedophile uncle Terry McMonagle

THE star of CBeebies hit Me Too! bravely waived his right to remain anonymous in a bid to urge other victims of sexual abuse not to suffer in silence.

Matthew McVarish pictured in Me Too!Matthew McVarish pictured in Me Too!
BBC/Tattiemoon
ACTOR Matthew ­McVarish has told how he was ­sexually abused as a child by a ­paedophile uncle.

The star of CBeebies hit Me Too! revealed he was a victim of pervert Terry McMonagle, who was jailed for six years after 20 years of abuse.

In an exclusive interview with the ­Sunday Mail, Matthew, 30, bravely waived his right to remain anonymous and told how he and and his brothers were preyed on by his mum’s brother, a teacher.

The actor said the ordeal was behind his decision to act as an ambassador for victims support group Stop The Silence.

Supply teacher McMonagle, 62, was locked up in 2010 for abusing Matthew and his brothers between 1976 and 1996.

Matthew, of East Kilbride, who plays Raymond in the hit show, said he felt guilty about carrying the secret of the abuse for more than 10 years and not speaking out earlier.

He said he even felt like an ­“accomplice” because ­McMonagle ­continued to work with kids while Matthew and his family struggled. Matthew said: “He never used violence, it wasn’t like that. He didn’t even threaten me about not telling, I just knew that I shouldn’t.

“He used to buy me toys, lots of toys. He was my godfather, he was always laughing and joking but there was this other side to him too.. and I was just a little boy.

“The abuse happened as far back as I can remember as a child – when they went through the charges in court, it took the prosecutors 25 minutes to read them all out.

“After several years, I told him to stop touching me and I could tell he was afraid of what might happen.

“The abuse stopped but something inside me stopped me telling anyone else.”

When Matthew turned 15, he realised he had not been the only victim when one of his brothers had a breakdown and revealed to their dad that McMonagle had abused him.

But even as the realisation dawned that he was not alone, Matthew could not find the courage to tell his brother he had been abused by the same man.

His brother’s confession remained a family secret as their dad ­concentrated on helping him recover. Matthew said: “He was 10 years older than me when he had a terrible ­breakdown. He told dad and I what had happened to him and, in that moment, I realised I hadn’t been the only one after all.

“My dad was concerned about my brother but nothing was said about why he was suffering. There were, and are, lots of families like ours.

“It was just the way it was, and still is, for many people.”

Matthew realised that McMonagle’s behaviour could not remain secret forever. He suspected his brothers were victims but he had to find a way to broach the subject.

Handout
Matthew on the day of his First Communion with his uncle Terry McMonagle, who abused himMatthew on the day of his First Communion with his uncle Terry McMonagle, who abused him
He said: “I wrote a play, To Kill A Kelpie, about brothers who share a secret.

“A kelpie is a mysterious sea creature which uses its charisma to capture its victims, just like my uncle did.

“When my brothers read the play, we found the strength to talk to each other for the first time about what he did to us.

“Because our abuser was a teacher, we understood we had to go to the police and ensure he was stopped. It was hard but we’ve never regretted it.”

The brothers learned McMonagle had used the same tactics on all of them.

Matthew said his uncle often told him: “I love you lots and lots and lots” and “I only do these things because I love you”. He added: “It was only when I started ­talking about what happened to me that I began to finally heal.

“What I didn’t know was my three older brothers had all also been abused by my uncle. We’d become his accomplices with our silence, allowing him to continue working with children.

“I had to speak out and tell what ­happened to me, to all of us.”

McMonagle, who taught children with learning difficulties in Lanarkshire and ran football teams for boys, was finally jailed in April 2010.

Matthew has since toured To Kill A Kelpie across the US.

He said: “By speaking out, the world is changing. People understand more about child abuse and the effect it has.

“I recently saw an abuser being ­interviewed. He was asked what he’d done to his victim and he answered that he’d ­murdered the child she was going to be.That’s the truth.”

Matthew, who is joining River City next month to play social worker Alan, has been supported by close friend Tom Urie, who plays Big Bob in the Shieldinch soap.

Matthew said: “He’s always ready to listen.”

In his work with Stop The Silence, the actor is aiming to change attitudes and raise awareness about the differences between the way countries treat child abuse crimes.

He said: “Some countries, such as ­Estonia, won’t investigate child abuse crimes after the victim reaches the age of 33 despite victims taking years to come forward.

“There should be no limitation. Studies show children don’t make these crimes up. If a child says they’ve been abused, they’ve been abused. By not acting, we’re telling them they don’t matter.”

In May, Matthew begins a 10,000 mile walk, called Road To Change, which will take him across every major city in Europe, from London to Geneva, over two years.

Along the way, he will be raising money and awareness and hoping someone donates a camper van so he has somewhere warm to sleep at night.

He said: “I’m raring to go and know we’ll touch lives by doing this.”

Revealing a picture of himself, at seven, alongside his uncle on the day of his First Holy Communion, Matthew added: “I really hope that if he has hurt anyone else, after reading my story, they will find the courage to come forward and tell the police or get help or counselling.

“I’ve ended my silence, I want others to end theirs too.”

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