Kirk holds sex crime hearing

Stonehaven Sheriff Court, where the case was heard

A Church of Scotland inquiry into the behaviour of a minister who tried to sexually assault a teenage boy is in its final stage.

A formal hearing is taking place in Edinburgh into the conduct of the Reverend Ian Andrew, 37, from Musselburgh.

At Stonehaven Sheriff Court last October, Andrew admitted putting his arm around the 14-year-old boy and trying to take hold of his private parts.

Sentence was deferred until the church's own inquiry was complete but Andrew was placed on the sex offenders register at the time.

The inquiry - known as a Presbyterial Commission - is a form of church court.

Panel membership

It comprises five people, appointed by the General Assembly, and headed by Sheriff John Horsburgh.

His position as a sheriff is irrelevant within the context of the commission except for his legal knowledge.

The Very Reverend Andrew McLelland, former moderator and now Scotland's inspector of prisons, is also on the panel.

Two elders and another minister make up the five.

The hearing is Andrew's first opportunity, either himself or through a representative, to state a case directly to the church if he so wishes.

'Happily married'

The incident happened when Andrew was visiting the leisure club at the Hilton Craigendarroch Hotel at Ballater on Royal Deeside on 16 July 2002.

The sheriff court last year heard that Andrew was a happily married man with two girls aged eight and 11.

Then, his solicitor Denis Daun said: "The sanctions of this court are going to be less than that of his employers and he fully accepts that."

Andrew has remained suspended from his post in Musselburgh throughout the legal process.