Celtic have said they’re looking into allegations of sexual abuse at various times through the years. No victims spoken to and no findings made available. The earlier “investigations” may even have been used to see who knew what and who could be trusted to not act on that knowledge. Forcing out anybody who wasn’t into the sort of things that seem to have been prevalent throughout.
The later smoke and mirrors have been to limit damage to the brand and minimise the number of victims who feel able to come forward. They even claimed to be a separate entity to their boys club. There’s cases of the club denying victims ever played for them. The club also employed a company to clean this stuff off the internet which presumably is the reason many of these stories won’t appear on the news outlet sites and need to be read on 3rd party sites and apps.
The ultimate aim of the shenanigans may have been slightly different but all were just as harrowing for the victims. They all added to the secrecy that left boys with nowhere to turn for help when the country is supposedly encouraging victims to speak out to prevent people suffering in silence while more people fall victim.
A victim has won a case and been paid out in relation to McCafferty and plenty more will follow. It’s a pity the club is still putting victims through the torture 50 years after this started.
Excerpt from the Daily Mail, August 2019:
CELTIC have paid ‘significant’ compensation to a former player who suffered sexual abuse by a coach at the club.
McCafferty, who worked for Celtic, Hibernian and Falkirk, was jailed for six years and nine months in May after admitting a series of historic crimes against teenage boys when he appeared at the High Court in edinburgh.
The 73-year-old had admitted ten charges of indecent assault and one charge of lewd and libidinous behaviour against boys aged between 13 and 19 – with some crimes dating back to 1972.
Police Scotland called the scale
of the abuse ‘unprecedented’. The former professional youth player raised a claim through the Personal Injury Court in Edinburgh, after his mental health was affected by abuse suffered during the 1990s.
The Scottish Daily Mail knows the identity of the player, who is now in his 30s, but he cannot be named for legal reasons.
While the exact sum to be paid has not been revealed, legal sources said based on previous payouts south of the Border it could be upwards of £100,000. Last night, the victim’s solicitor, Kim Leslie, confirmed Celtic had admitted liability for the abuse – all of which took place when McCafferty and the former player were full-time employees of the club. She said: ‘For decades, my client suffered as a result of McCafferty’s abuse, so above all else I’d like to pay tribute to him for the courage he has shown in stepping forwards.
‘Ever since McCafferty’s abuse was exposed, Celtic FC remained firm in its defence and denial of responsibility. However, after thorough investigations, I was able to present a robust case, which resulted in the club admitting liability. I hope the successful end to this legal action brings closure to my client and also brings hope to those who are considering a civil action of their own.’
Celtic bosses have expressed ‘regret and sorrow’ for other abuse claimants who played for Celtic Boys Club in the 1960s and 1970s, but have repeatedly distanced themselves from potential litigation by claiming their former feeder operation was an ‘entirely separate organisation’.
Boys Club founder Jim Torbett, coach Frank Cairney and former Boys Club chairman Gerald King have also been convicted for sex crimes against former players.
During the 1990s, however, McCafferty was a full-time employee of Celtic, working alongside first team and youth players when he abused his position of trust.
But as pressure grows on the club to accept legal liability for abuse that
‘The club admitted liability’
took place within the Boys Club, legal experts warn that ultimately the club could face multi-million pound compensation payouts.
Earlier this year, lawyer Patrick McGuire, who represented some victims, said: ‘We have intimated a large number of claims on behalf of survivors of all the four named paedophiles that operated under the guise of the wider Celtic umbrella.
‘We absolutely will be going to court, unless Celtic’s tack changes.’
The Parkhead club recently announced that its insurers had appointed a ‘wholly independent and experienced lawyer’ to investigate the sexual assault scandal.
Celtic declined to comment. In a recent statement, chief executive Peter Lawwell said: ‘We respect any claimants’ rights and our advisers will communicate with them and their representatives directly in the proper manner.’
