‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’ Celtic abuser is jailed
A FORMER manager of Celtic Boys Club who sexually abused boys has been jailed for four years.
Frank Cairney abused eight boys while running a youth team and Celtic under-16s.
The 83-year-old joined the Glasgow giants in 1971 after being asked to run the youth side by manager Jock Stein.
But he used his position of power to molest youngsters in a church hall, in his car and at Barrowfield training ground. Cairney, of Viewpark, Lanarkshire, had denied nine charges of historic sexual abuse spanning between 1965 and 1986 at Celtic Boys Club and at St Columba’s Boys Guild in his home town, but was convicted at Hamilton Sheriff Court following a trial.
He was yesterday jailed by Sheriff Daniel Kelly, QC, who described him as a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’.
Sheriff Kelly put Cairney on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. He said: ‘Over 20 years you preyed on young boys.
‘What these boys wanted was to play football and wanted to play for Celtic FC. You organised a church team and then went to the Celtic Boys Club and this proved to be the cover for you to prey upon boys.
‘What parents did not know is that you were a wolf in sheep’s clothing who used football to conceal that you were an active paedophile.
‘You have shown no remorse or empathy, continuing to peddle your version of events.’
Thomas Ross, QC, defending, said Cairney still insisted he was innocent.
Depute fiscal Paula Russell said: ‘This is not about religion
‘You have shown no remorse’
or the name of the club above the door but about a man who used his position of power to abuse boys in his care.’
Speaking outside court, a family member of one of the victims said: ‘We have waited almost 50 years for Frank Cairney to be punished.’
Cairney is the third member of Celtic Boys Club to have been convicted of child sexual abuse, after Jim Torbett and Gerald King.
A spokesman for NSPCC Scotland said: ‘Cairney’s victims have shown incredible bravery in coming forward.’
DCI Laura Carnochan, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: ‘Francis Cairney is a serial child abuser, who took advantage of the children in his care.
‘All of the boys he abused dreamed of being footballers, and Cairney exploited those dreams for his own purposes.’