FRANK CAIRNEY SHOCKS VIEWPARK: CELTIC BOYS CLUB ABUSE SCANDAL REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
| Red Rose Database
Viewpark Child Sexual Abuser
In February 2019, the criminal case against Frank Cairney, a former manager of Celtic Boys Football Club, reached a devastating conclusion as he was sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in the sexual abuse of young footballers. The court heard that Cairney, aged 83, had committed these heinous acts over a span of years, with the abuse dating back to the 1980s, and the impact on his victims was described as profoundly damaging.
During the sentencing, Sheriff Daniel Kelly did not hold back in his condemnation, describing Cairney as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” The sheriff emphasized the betrayal of trust involved, given Cairney’s position within the football community and his access to vulnerable children. The court proceedings revealed that Cairney’s victims had endured significant suffering, with some suffering long-lasting trauma from the abuse.
It was also noted that Cairney had previously been acquitted of similar charges approximately 20 years earlier, which added a layer of complexity and frustration to the ongoing pursuit of justice. Following his conviction in December, one of the victims, who had been abused in the early 1970s, expressed a sense of relief, stating that justice had finally caught up with the “evil paedophile.” The victim also accused Cairney of exploiting his standing at Celtic FC to gain access to innocent young boys, whom he then abused in the most horrific ways.
The case against Cairney is part of a disturbing pattern involving multiple former Celtic Boys Club coaches. In recent months, the club has been rocked by revelations of child sexual abuse, with Jim Torbett, the founder of the club, being jailed for six years in November after being convicted of abusing three boys over an eight-year period. Another coach, Gerald King, a teacher and former Celtic Boys Club coach, was also convicted earlier this month of abusing four boys and a girl during the 1980s while coaching at a primary school in North Glasgow.
These revelations have cast a long shadow over the club’s history, which was founded in 1966 by Jim Torbett with the approval of then Celtic FC manager Jock Stein and former chairman Sir Robert Kelly. The club was established as a separate entity but maintained close ties with Celtic FC, serving as a feeder club that produced notable players such as Roy Aitken, Paul McStay, and Tommy Burns.
In the latest case, jurors at Hamilton Sheriff Court took only two hours to find Cairney guilty of nine charges of molesting young boys at various football clubs he managed between 1965 and 1986. The abuse took place in different settings, including a church hall, Cairney’s car, and Celtic’s Barrowfield training ground. Cairney was subsequently placed on the sex offenders register and was granted bail until his sentencing, which is scheduled for next month.
One of Cairney’s victims, who was abused in the early 1970s, has initiated a civil lawsuit against Celtic FC, with Thompsons Solicitors representing him. Laura Connor, a partner at Thompsons, stated, “This is another conviction of an abuser from Celtic Boys Club who was very closely connected with Celtic Football Club. The links between the two institutions could not have been more clear. The children trained at Celtic Park with former Celtic players and wore Celtic strips. Most damning, some of the abuse was carried out in the Celtic dressing room at the stadium. The club is liable for this abuse and must compensate the survivors as quickly as possible. If they continue to ignore the victims, we will see them in court.”
These recent convictions follow a series of disturbing revelations, including Jim Torbett’s six-year imprisonment in November for abusing three boys, and Gerald King’s conviction earlier this month for abusing multiple children during the 1980s. The history of abuse within Celtic Boys Club has cast a long, dark shadow over its legacy, prompting widespread calls for accountability and justice for the victims who suffered at the hands of trusted figures within the football community.
During the sentencing, Sheriff Daniel Kelly did not hold back in his condemnation, describing Cairney as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” The sheriff emphasized the betrayal of trust involved, given Cairney’s position within the football community and his access to vulnerable children. The court proceedings revealed that Cairney’s victims had endured significant suffering, with some suffering long-lasting trauma from the abuse.
It was also noted that Cairney had previously been acquitted of similar charges approximately 20 years earlier, which added a layer of complexity and frustration to the ongoing pursuit of justice. Following his conviction in December, one of the victims, who had been abused in the early 1970s, expressed a sense of relief, stating that justice had finally caught up with the “evil paedophile.” The victim also accused Cairney of exploiting his standing at Celtic FC to gain access to innocent young boys, whom he then abused in the most horrific ways.
The case against Cairney is part of a disturbing pattern involving multiple former Celtic Boys Club coaches. In recent months, the club has been rocked by revelations of child sexual abuse, with Jim Torbett, the founder of the club, being jailed for six years in November after being convicted of abusing three boys over an eight-year period. Another coach, Gerald King, a teacher and former Celtic Boys Club coach, was also convicted earlier this month of abusing four boys and a girl during the 1980s while coaching at a primary school in North Glasgow.
These revelations have cast a long shadow over the club’s history, which was founded in 1966 by Jim Torbett with the approval of then Celtic FC manager Jock Stein and former chairman Sir Robert Kelly. The club was established as a separate entity but maintained close ties with Celtic FC, serving as a feeder club that produced notable players such as Roy Aitken, Paul McStay, and Tommy Burns.
In the latest case, jurors at Hamilton Sheriff Court took only two hours to find Cairney guilty of nine charges of molesting young boys at various football clubs he managed between 1965 and 1986. The abuse took place in different settings, including a church hall, Cairney’s car, and Celtic’s Barrowfield training ground. Cairney was subsequently placed on the sex offenders register and was granted bail until his sentencing, which is scheduled for next month.
One of Cairney’s victims, who was abused in the early 1970s, has initiated a civil lawsuit against Celtic FC, with Thompsons Solicitors representing him. Laura Connor, a partner at Thompsons, stated, “This is another conviction of an abuser from Celtic Boys Club who was very closely connected with Celtic Football Club. The links between the two institutions could not have been more clear. The children trained at Celtic Park with former Celtic players and wore Celtic strips. Most damning, some of the abuse was carried out in the Celtic dressing room at the stadium. The club is liable for this abuse and must compensate the survivors as quickly as possible. If they continue to ignore the victims, we will see them in court.”
These recent convictions follow a series of disturbing revelations, including Jim Torbett’s six-year imprisonment in November for abusing three boys, and Gerald King’s conviction earlier this month for abusing multiple children during the 1980s. The history of abuse within Celtic Boys Club has cast a long, dark shadow over its legacy, prompting widespread calls for accountability and justice for the victims who suffered at the hands of trusted figures within the football community.