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Abuse survivors question secrecy over Celtic’s damages pay-out to victim of paedophile coach Jim McCafferty

Jim McCafferty
Jim McCafferty

Abuse survivors yesterday questioned the secrecy surrounding a deal by Celtic to pay compensation to a former player abused by a team coach.

The club faced criticism after it emerged it had admitted liability and paid “significant” damages to an ex-youth player molested by paedophile Jim McCafferty.

The man was abused while signed to Celtic FC as a youth player and was not a victim of abuse at Celtic Boys Club where other convicted paedophiles operated. One leading solicitor branded the compensation deal revealed yesterday as “utterly shameful”.

Patrick McGuire, a partner at Thompsons solicitors, said: “The Scottish public can draw their own conclusions over the fact the club tried to keep this [settlement] secret and has issued no apology.

“For reasons of legal strategy, it appears the club has tried to reach secret deals. This is utterly shameful”.

Kenny Campbell, a survivor of convicted CBC paedophile Jim Torbett appealed to meet Celtic chief Peter Lawwell and said: “This news of a secret pay-out to a survivor approved by their shady spin doctors is another kick in the teeth.”

Celtic has not commented and did not respond to a request for a statement yesterday. Mr Lawwell recently said the club had commissioned a lawyer to investigate the boys club scandal but it was not appropriate to discuss the ongoing process in the media.

The abuse survivor’s lawyer, Kim Leslie, said: “I hope the successful end to this legal action brings closure to my client and also brings hope to those who considering a civil action of their own.”

McCafferty, 73, admitted abusing 10 teenage boys between 1972 and 1996. He was jailed in May for six years and nine months.