Monk, 88, charged over two sex attacks

Father Luke McNally, of the Sancta Maria Abbey at Nunraw, near Garvald in East Lothian, was charged by police over the alleged sex attacks. The 88-year-old, who joined the Cistercian community of monks at Nunraw in January 1959, is accused of two incidents of indecent assault both within the last five years.

Police are set to submit a report over the allegations to the procurator fiscal after the complaints against him were made. Father McNally has not yet appeared in court to face the charges. He is understood to be very frail and in poor health and, and is being monitored by a doctor.

Born Charles McNally, he joined the monastery and became Father Luke after leaving Dundee for life at the abbey, the only Cistercian community in Scotland.

A police spokesman said: "An 88-year-old man from the Garvald area has been charged with two incidents of indecent assault.

"A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."

A Crown Office spokesman confirmed that the police report to the fiscal had not yet been received.

Nunraw Abbey has a guesthouse for up to 60 visitors, with young professionals, families and elderly people all staying at the spiritual retreat every year.

It also takes in recovering alcoholics and addicts, who are offered counselling by the monks, and has welcomed guests from South Africa, Latvia, Australia and Switzerland.

Last June, its retired abbot, Dom Donald McGlynn became an unlikely victims of identity fraud after being targeted by international criminals. Hackers stole the e-mail address belonging to him before sending messages to the near-1000 people in his address book.

The monastery, located among the Lammermuir hills near Haddington, was hit with dozens of calls from worried people who received the e-mail to check on Dom Donald's welfare.

Today a spokesman for the Sancta Maria Abbey said he was unable to comment at this stage on the allegations surrounding Father Luke McNally.