News / Church abuse apology
A YOUNG Shetland man who stormed into two Lerwick churches and abused the congregations in the middle of their worship has said he wants to apologise to the people he upset.
On Thursday Lerwick Sheriff Court heard that 22 year old William McCover, of 5 Veester Hill, Sandwick, was drinking heavily when he intruded on a Catholic and a Mormon service on Sunday 9 February.
Two weeks ago the court heard that McCover had cooked up the plan to “misbehave” at St Margaret’s Church, on Lerwick’s St Olaf Street, while drinking with friends the previous night.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said his conduct was “truly disgusting”, barging into the churches “shouting and swearing things like ‘what you are singing is fucking lies’”.
After being thrown out of the St Margaret’s by the congregation he went up the road with his 16 year old accomplice Christian Duncan, of 12 Millgaet, Lerwick, and did the same thing at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, on Prince Alfred Street.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said McCover was a first offender who had started drinking excessively and allowed his behaviour to get out of control.
However since this incident he had turned his life around, stopped drinking, obtained a job in the fishing industry and was due to start college this week.
“He has done a really stupid and offensive thing, perhaps through drink and to show off in front of the people he was with, but he has had time to think about this,” he said.
McCover now wanted to make a formal apology to the two churches, he said.
Deferring sentence for six months for him to be of good behaviour, he told McCover: “This was an absolutely disgraceful episode and you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.”
The sheriff advised him to behave himself and provide proof that he had apologised to the two churches of he wanted to avoid more than a fine.
Two weeks ago Sheriff Mann told Duncan that if he made a donation to the churches, as the young chef proposed, he might give him an absolute discharge.
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