Hibs hired kitman after Celtic sacked him amid abuse claims

Hibs hired a kitman who was later exposed as a predatory sex attacker after he had been sacked from Celtic amid allegations of abuse, a top-level probe has said.
Jim McCafferty was later jailedJim McCafferty was later jailed
Jim McCafferty was later jailed

The long-awaited report of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football states that a number of clubs, including Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Hibs and Falkirk, had employees who targeted budding stars of the future.

Junior teams – including Hutchie Vale and Armadale Thistle – were also caught up in the scandal and several victims later took their own lives.

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The highest-profile abusers worked at Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Falkirk, with one, Jim McCafferty, currently serving a sentence for a string of child sex offences.

McCafferty, 75, a former kitman for Celtic, Hibs and Falkirk, was jailed for six years and nine months in 2019 for abusing 10 teenage boys.

He confessed to decades of abuse in a frank interview in 2016 and spent two years in HMP Maghaberry, Co Antrim, before answering an arrest warrant in Scotland.

Detectives later said he had sexually abused 27 boys aged between 13 and 19, between 1972 and 1996. A number of other men linked to Celtic and Celtic Boys Club have also been convicted of sex offences against young players.

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In their report, the review team refer to McCafferty as ‘E’ and state: “The Review understands that E left Celtic FC (where he was apparently employed as a kitman) when the managers and Board at Celtic FC became aware of allegations concerning his activity in a previous club. Press reports of the time indicate that Celtic FC undertook an internal investigation as a result. If this was the case, then the Review considers this highly appropriate however the Review has been unable to confirm this information.

“E’s departure from Celtic FC feature in press reports from the time. Despite this being widely reported he was apparently then able to secure employment at Hibernian FC as a kitman and

thereafter the Review understands he was at Falkirk FC in the same capacity until his retirement.”

It continues: “The Review is concerned that E was able, apparently, to secure employment at two senior clubs (Hibernian FC and Falkirk FC) following reports of his alleged activities already having appeared in the national press.

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"It is the view of the Review that due diligence should have been exercised in recruitment and appointment at the time although it is recognised that disclosure processes at that time were either initially not in place at Hibernian FC or neither club could use such processes because the work to which E was being appointed did not fall within the scope of disclosure checking. Even so, it seems probable that reports would have reached both clubs concerning E’s alleged past conduct because these had appeared in the national press and may have been common knowledge within Scottish football as a result.”

McCafferty joined Hibs after he was sacked by Celtic in 1996 and later moved to Falkirk before retiring in 2005.

The independent review, commissioned by the Scottish Football Association, also revealed an investigation is underway into claims boys were trafficked between McCafferty and Barry Bennell, a serial abuser based in England who is serving a 30 year sentence.

The review, which took testimony from 33 victims, found no-one in the game had concrete evidence of abuse at the time but said there were varying levels of suspicion that could have been acted on.

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SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said the content of the 191-page review had left him "deeply upset”

A total of 97 recommendations have been made, including calls for individual clubs to make apologies to those who were affected, in a bid to help them move on.

Mr Maxwell said: "I am deeply upset by the contents of the final report into sexual abuse in Scottish football and, in particular, by the deeply personal, traumatic experiences endured by young players who were abused by people in whom they and their families placed their trust.

"I reiterate my sincerest apology on behalf of Scottish football to all who have experienced abuse in our national game."

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A spokesman for Hibernian FC said: “We would reiterate the view we have expressed in the past, commending the courage of all of the survivors who have come forward to raise this issue, and we deeply regret any suffering that those survivors have endured.

“The review has investigated these non-recent allegations with a view to ensuring they are not repeated. The recommendations have been and continue to be acted upon, and at Hibernian we have made child safety and wellbeing a priority. We have appointed a dedicated and experienced Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer who has been in post since October 1, 2018.”

A Falkirk statement said: “Falkirk Football Club welcomes the publication of the Independent Review into sexual abuse which is a thorough piece of work that everyone involved in Scottish football should reflect upon. We stand ready to work with the Scottish FA to ensure that the report’s recommendations are delivered upon to ensure all of our footballers are able to learn and develop in a safe and positive environment.

“Our engagement with the Review centred around an individual who was employed for a short period with Falkirk FC in 2004. None of the admissions or allegations made against this individual relate to his short time with Falkirk FC nor did his role fall under the scope of disclosure checking as highlighted in the report. We have however strengthened our recruitment and due diligence processes and will ensure these are closely monitored to maintain appropriate and best practices.”

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