Former MP denies groping woman on night out

4 hours ago

News image — Conor McGinn denies drunkenly groping a woman on a night out

PA Media Conor McGinn, 41, who has short brown hair, glasses with tortoise-shell frames and is wearing a dark blue mackintosh coat, walking with a serious expression. — Conor McGinn denies drunkenly groping a woman on a night out

A former Labour MP has appeared in court to deny drunkenly sexually assaulting a woman during a night out.

Conor McGinn, who represented St Helens North, is accused of "coming on to" the woman after they went out drinking, allegedly groping her breasts and crotch area.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, the 41-year-old appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram to plead not guilty to a charge of sexual assault.

The judge ordered him to stand trial over three days in November.

Prosecutor Colin Witcher said the alleged offence happened in July 2022, when McGinn was "out socialising with the complainant and others".

"At that time, the defendant was an MP," he said.

PA Media Conor McGinn, 41, who has short brown hair, glasses with tortoise-shell frames and is wearing a dark blue mackintosh coat, walks away from a court building alongside a woman with long brown hair, glasses, a red jacket and pink scarf. She is linking arms with McGinn and looks into the camera with a serious expression. — Conor McGinn served as the MP for St Helens North for nine years

"Towards the end of that evening, the complainant alleges the defendant, in drink, came on to her and began kissing her.

"She said no and attempted to push him away, saying stop, pointing out he is married."

It is said McGinn went on to "grope" the woman, over her clothing in the breasts and crotch area.

"Outside the club, there was similar behaviour towards the complainant," added Mr Witcher.

McGinn's defence barrister, Orla Daly, told the hearing he "vehemently denies" the allegation against him.

The court also heard that the incident was initially investigated internally by the Labour Party before being reported to the Metropolitan Police.

Judge Ikram freed McGinn on unconditional bail until the start of the trial on 16 November.

McGinn was elected in 2015, and spent the next nine years in Parliament.

He served as an opposition whip and the Labour Party's deputy national campaign co-ordinator, and announced in 2023 that he would stand down at the election the following year.

He had been suspended by the Labour Party in 2022.

McGinn, who lives in an apartment block in Lambeth which overlooks the River Thames, spoke during the 15-minute court hearing to confirm his identity and deny sexual assault.

He agreed to stand trial in the magistrates' court rather than electing a jury trial.

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