Priest: I Know Nothing about Angelika's Death, Glasgow Evening Times [Scotland], April 5, 2007

Priest: I Know Nothing about Angelika's Death

Glasgow Evening Times [Scotland]
April 5, 2007

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1310319.0.priest_i_know_nothing_about_angelikas_death.php

A Glasgow priest was today branded a "despicable coward" and a liar for claiming Angelika Kluk had seduced him.

Father Gerry Nugent, 63, faced a fourth day of questioning over his affair with the 23-year-old Polish student.

He was giving evidence at the trial of Peter Tobin, 60, who is accused of raping and murdering Angelika and hiding her body under the floor at St Patrick's Church in Anderston. He denies all the charges against him.

Earlier, Father Gerry told the High Court in Edinburgh of his shame and self-disgust over their sexual relationship and said the affair in the summer of 2005 was his responsibility.

Today the jury heard that in the aftermath of Angelika's death last September he told police a different story.

Father Gerry had given a detailed account of his affair with Angelika, when defence QC Donald Findlay pressed him further.

Father Gerry Nugent at the High Court in Edinburgh. We told how he had claimed a second affair in later editions of yesterday's Evening Times

Mr Findlay asked him: "You are not in any way suggesting, here on oath, that this girl instigated it, she was somehow the driving force?"

Father Gerry agreed it was "a mutual thing".

Mr Findlay added: "If anybody then sought to blame a girl who could not speak for herself, it would be a despicable act by a despicable individual and coward and a liar.

Above: victim Angelika Kluk

Witness denies he knew where body was

Father Gerry was today accused of knowing where Angelika's body was when police were investigating her disappearance.

Mr Findlay put it to him that parishioner Rebecca Dordi told police 'there was much talk about the body in the church' on the night it was found, Friday, September 29.

Mr Findlay said: 'She told police you said the body had been found inside the confessional box and she said that couldn't be, because she had checked the confessional box.'

Father Gerry said he expected that was the truth. He said he 'surmised' it and had not had any information.

Mr Findlay asked how it could be that there was discussion in the household about virtually the precise location of the body.

The lawyer put it to the witness the one reason there was such talk was because 'someone in that house knew where the body was'. 'That was you, wasn't it?'

Father Gerry replied: 'I don't know anything about the death.'

"Who am I talking about Father Nugent?

The priest replied: "You are talking about me."

Mr Findlay read from a statement Father Gerry gave to detectives on October 1 last year, in which the priest told how he and Angelika were close and would kiss when they passed each other in the chapel house at St Patrick's, where she had been staying.

The statement said: "I was very fond of her and cared about her but I was not intensely attracted to her. She felt more strongly about me than I did about her and it was she who pushed everything. It was not me."

Today Father Gerry agreed he had said that in the statement and that it differed from his evidence in court.

He said: "Angela is not here to speak for herself."

Earlier he told the court how their affair blossomed in the chapel house, while Angelika was spending holidays and working in Scotland to help finance her university studies.

Father Gerry, a self-confessed alcoholic, said today drink was not involved.

He told how they became firm friends. If they had been watching TV together she would give him a goodnight kiss when she went up to bed, as one would with a family member.

He said he seldom went into her room and always knocked.

"On the night it happened she invited me in. I sat down and it happened. We began to kiss seriously and it led to sexual activity," said the priest.

Asked who instigated it, or whether it just happened, Father Gerry replied: "I can only speak for myself and I take full responsibility for this part of the relationship.

"It was the culmination of kissing."

"It was my weakness, my lustfulness, and that is what I mean when I say I take full responsibility."

The priest was questioned by Dorothy Bain, prosecuting, who said church musician Sarah Howie denied having a sexual relationship with Father Gerry, as he had claimed in court.

The priest agreed there had been no sexual intercourse but insisted there had been intimacy.

The trial continues

I told witness to conceal evidence'

Father Gerry Nugent admitted he told a woman witness to conceal evidence from police.

He also said his alcoholism returned after he met Angelika Kluk at St Patrick's Church in Anderston two years ago.

But the priest, who had earlier admitted being "guilty, ashamed and disgusted" with himself for having sex with the Polish student, denied he went back on the bottle because he was in turmoil over his relationship with her.

QC Donald Findlay asked Father Gerry: "Did you ever tell anyone to conceal evidence from the police?"

The priest replied: "Yes, Rebecca."

Mr Findlay said: "You told Rebecca Dordi to conceal some matter or matters from the police?"

Father Nugent replied: "Yes."

No details of the matters he advised Ms Dordi to conceal were revealed, and Mr Findlay went on to question Father Nugent about his alcoholism.

The priest said he began suffering from the illness around a decade ago, then sought help from a "fellowship".

He said: "That worked for about 10 years."

Father Nugent said he went back on the drink two years ago, around the time he met Angelika.

But he denied the relationship with Angelika had anything to do with the illness returning.

Father Gerry admitted he was an alcoholic and told the court he felt "guilty, ashamed, and disgusted" with himself for having sex with Angelika soon after she came to stay at the church's chapel house.

Under questioning by Mr Findlay, Father Gerry admitted buying Angelika a £1500 laptop computer, giving her money and allowing her to use his credit card.