Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fundraiser facing charge of assault
CHARITY boss and former Dundee Citizen of the Year Charlie Kean has been charged with assault and vandalism.
Kean, 54, is also accused of threatening and abusive behaviour following an alleged incident which is said to have taken place on the night of May 3 into May 4 at the Esplanade in Broughty Ferry.
He was due to appear at Dundee Sheriff Court today.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed officers were called to attend the alleged incident.
He said: “Police Scotland can confirm a 54-year-old man has been charged in connection with alleged assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and vandalism in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, on May 3 and 4.
“A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal and it is anticipated he will appear at Dundee Sheriff Court today.”
Kean, who currently lives on the Esplanade at Broughty Ferry, runs his own slater’s business, Kean 2 Slaters, from premises in the city’s Fairfield Street.
The roofing contractor has become well-known locally over the years for spearheading a number of charitable campaigns.
In particular, he runs Charlie Kean’s Children’s Fund, which he set up in 1999.
The charity regularly raises money for local children as well as providing gifts for deprived children at Christmas and Easter.
Kean’s fundraising efforts helped raise more than £250,000 by 2012 towards refurbishing the children’s cancer treatment facilities at Ninewells Hospital.
He was made Dundee Citizen of the Year in 2012. He has also organised dozens of special events for youngsters including annual Christmas ice shows and concert trips to see the latest bands.
His charitable work also extends beyond Scotland, with a portrait of him hanging in an orphanage in Ukraine, presented to him by the Lord Mayor of Melitopol.
Kean was introduced to Prince Charles in 1986 thanks to his work with the Prince’s Trust and he is one of few non-Rotarians in the world to have been awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship award for his charity work.