Celtic Boys Club manager 'stuffed banknotes in boy's mouth'

[ian1964 10,377]

 

[ian1964 10,377]

 

[ian1964 10,377]

 

[Rick Roberts 246]

Here's some recent tweets from MSP John Mason. The contortion to avoid appropriation any blame to Celtic is incredible to watch. 

 

Another line I've noticed recently from Celtic fans is if that if something is not proven through the courts, then it never happened. 

 

 

 

 

[ian1964 10,377]

 

[Uilleam 5,395]

It's not telling us much that we didn't know, or strongly, strongly suspected, but here it is.

From today's Times

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/celtic-links-to-abuse-scandal-boys-club-revealed-5k8gb833r

 

TIMES INVESTIGATION

Celtic links to abuse-scandal Boys Club revealed

Marc Horne

May 30 2019, 12:01am, The Times

 

Celtic FC’s refusal to accept blame for systematic child abuse at its feeder club has been undermined by its own archives which reveal “official” links between the two organisations.

Four men who held senior positions at Celtic Boys Club have been convicted in recent months of molesting dozens of children over three decades.

While expressing “regret and sorrow” for the victims, Celtic FC bosses insist they are not legally culpable for the widespread abuse, describing the boys club as an “entirely separate organisation” with which they had “historic contacts”.

Their position is contradicted by a number of articles in the Celtic View, the club’s official magazine, however, which talk of the boys club being “brought into the Celtic family”.

An archived page from the Celtic Boys Club website says that a “semi- formal arrangement” was put in place by the late chief scout John Higgins so it could be a “nursery for young players Celtic had identified as having potential”.

A lawyer representing the abuse victims said that they provided “compelling and unanswerable” proof that Celtic FC bears responsibility for the actions of the four convicted paedophiles. Celtic View articles seen by The Times reveal that:

● David Hay, the Celtic manager at the time, described the boys’ club as “very much a part of Celtic FC”, while a columnist spoke of an “official connection”.

● Celtic’s board of directors stated they were totally committed to the boys’ club and offered “investment and support”.

● Jimmy Savile was a guest of Celtic in 1987 and was hailed as a “staunch supporter”, only months after the club dismissed allegations of widespread abuse as “scurrilous”.

● Celtic’s own official history book says that the purpose of the boys’ club was to “bring talented youngsters under the Celtic wing”.

The revelations put further pressure on Celtic to follow the lead set by Manchester City and issue an apology and compensate those who were abused.

In 1987 Frank Cairney, a coach at Celtic Boys who was convicted of child sexual abuse in December, boasted about how the club had been founded by his friend Jim Torbett, a fellow paedophile who was convicted last November and is in jail.

 

Cairney, in his column for Celtic View, wrote: “It was some 20 short years back that [Celtic manager] Jock Stein and [Celtic chairman] Sir Robert Kelly brought the CBC into the Celtic family.

“It is now 18 years since Jock and [the Celtic scout] John Higgins made the connection official.”

A Celtic View report from a boys club social held in March 1986, which was attended by the players Tommy Burns and Paul McStay, said: “David Hay [the manager] complimented CBC and once again confirmed that they are very much a part of Celtic FC.” Two years earlier it had published an article which said: “The CBC organisation and its close attachment and association with Celtic FC and the service it has given to the name of Celtic has been admired and envied by many of the top clubs in Britain.”

Patrick McGuire, a partner at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “[This new evidence] reduces to ridicule any suggestion that Celtic FC and CBC were in any way, shape or form separate organisations. Every boy who went through the CBC knew it was part of the Celtic family and now we have absolutely compelling evidence that shows this.

“Court proceedings will be served on Celtic unless they do the right thing and face up to their responsibilities.”

Celtic FC did not comment.

Official connections between Celtic FC and its feeder team are spelt out on the Celtic Boys Club (CBC) website. It was taken down after the club was renamed St Patrick’s Sports Academy last year.

The Times has accessed an archived version of the site that states: “Initially the club was run totally independently from Celtic FC by a group of volunteers. Celtic FC scout John Higgins recognised the potential benefits of CBC to the professional club and subsequently a semi-formal arrangement was made where the boys’ club would act as a nursery for young players Celtic scouts had identified as having potential. It was an arrangement which would see the CBC produce an impressive list of talented players who would go on to make their names with the Hoops.” It confirms that the boys club trophy presentations took place at Celtic Park.

 

Quotes that undermine the official story

“It was 20 short years back that Jock Stein and Sir Robert Kelly brought the Celtic Boys Club into the Celtic family. It is now 18 years since Jock and John Higgins made the connection official.”
Celtic View, November 18, 1987

“David Hay in his remarks welcomed the ex-Celtic Boys Club players now playing with professional clubs. He said it brought great credit to the family name of Celtic that they should maintain the association with the boys club. He complimented Celtic Boys Club and once again confirmed that they are very much a part of Celtic FC.”
Celtic View, March 12, 1986

“Youngsters like Roy Aitken and Tommy Burns were coming through from Celtic Boys Club, which had been founded to bring talented youngsters under the Celtic wing.”
Celtic: The Official History by Brian Wilson

 

 

Edited May 30, 2019 by Uilleam

[Uilleam 5,395]

And there is more......

 

TIMES INVESTIGATION

Paedophile Celtic Boys coach thanked bosses for support

Marc Horne

May 30 2019, 12:01am, The Times

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/paedophile-celtic-boys-coach-thanked-bosses-for-support-qmsds3fr8

 

A paedophile manager of Celtic Boys Club thanked senior officials at Celtic FC for their backing after an internal investigation “cleared” him and fellow leaders of any wrongdoing.

Celtic started an inquiry after allegations in the Scottish press in 1986 raised serious concerns about the welfare of young players. However, Frank Cairney, who abused boys in the dressing room at Celtic Park, was allowed to continue in his role after the club found “nothing to substantiate” the claims.

Cairney used his weekly column in the Celtic View, the club’s official newspaper, to gloat that he and other fellow boys’ club officials had the support of the club’s bosses.

Writing in December 1986 he said: “We are particularly grateful to all concerned for the tremendous support we have received to take us through our recent difficult times. There is no doubt the backing we received from the directors, management and staff at Celtic Park has been a great source of strength for us.”

He insisted that officials at the boys’ club should be hailed rather than hounded and wrote: “They are dedicated voluntary workers who love Celtic.”

In the same month a Celtic View report of a boys’ club awards night said that Kevin Kelly, Celtic vice-chairman and honorary boys’ club president, “paid tribute to Jim Torbett and Frank Cairney for their tremendous efforts”.

Six months later Cairney wrote: “Our achievements this year have given me great satisfaction considering all the problems we faced over the past year. We are completely dedicated to the great name and traditions of the club. Nobody can or will take that away from us.”

Cairney added: “I would record our appreciation to the directors and management for all the support they gave us which was helpful and needed.”

He spoke out after Celtic View published a statement which said: “The Celtic board investigated the rumours and interviewed the men concerned in depth and could find nothing to substantiate the stories that were being circulated.” It attacked victims’ accounts of abuse as “scurrilous stories”.

Less than a year later Jimmy Savile was invited to be a guest of Celtic and did a lap of honour when the team took on Aberdeen on September 19, 1987.

Celtic View pictured him on the pitch and described him as a “staunch Celtic supporter”.

Kelly pledged “continued 100 per cent backing” for the Celtic Boys Club on behalf of the chairman, Jack McGinn, and his board at that years boys club annual meeting.

At that meeting Cairney was reappointed general manager of the boys’ club, Jim Torbett stayed as his assistant and Gerald King became a committee member.

All three men have now been found guilty of serious sexual offences against young children.

Cairney continued to be a familiar and respected figure at Celtic Park and in 1990 he was presented with a commemorative Scottish FA watch for his services to youth football. He took part in numerous overseas trips and took particular pride in leading annual visits to the US.

Cairney appeared in court accused of shameless indecency towards boys in 1998 but the case collapsed. His victims had to wait until last December before Cairney, now 83, was convicted of nine charges of sexually abusing young footballers.

Celtic FC failed to respond to a request for comment.

[26th of foot 5,825]

I note ra Sellik View is advertising the club's latest piece of merchandise, 'a Treble Treble Watch'. It's official, a Jeweler commissioned to design a bespoke piece.

 

I wonder if he could be persuaded to consult his creative muse and design an accompanying, 'Paedophile Ring', after all, it's an official link? 

[ian1964 10,377]

 

[compo 6,076]

1 hour ago, ian1964 said:

 

there will probably be no investigation as the  SNP don't want to alienate the Catholic vote that helps keep them  in office