Abuser a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’

Sheriff tells of ex-footie coach’s‘sinister cover’as he jails him for four years

A former football coach was branded “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” as he was jailed for four years last Thursday for abusing young players.

Frank Cairney (83) managed a church team in Lanarkshire before moving on to Celtic Boys Club and was a “revered” figure, Hamilton Sheriff Court heard.

However, below the “idyllic” surface he was “an active paedophile”, said Sheriff Daniel Kelly.

In December a jury found Cairney, of Elmbank Avenue, Viewpark, guilty of nine charges of indecent assault and lewd behaviour spanning 21 years, between 1965 and 1986.

The court was told that he would molest boys after taking them into a treatment room for a massage.

When Cairney returned to court for sentence, QC Thomas Ross said that he continues to protest his innocence.

He suggested that Cairney could be spared jail. Mr Ross told Sheriff Kelly: “These allegations represent the negative side of Mr Cairney’s character, but they are dwarfed by the positive impact he made caring for others, many of whom went on to have careers in professional football.”

But, passing sentence, Sheriff Kelly told the accused: “Through a protracted and painful process, it has been established that you preyed on boys over an extended period.

“The tragedy is that, on the surface, it all seemed idyllic.

“By all accounts you were a gifted and successful football manager.

“This proved to be a sinister cover for you to use your powerful position to prey upon boys.

“You had a great say in which young men would progress to be taken on by Celtic FC. You were a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Little did the parents suspect that the revered football manager was an active paedophile.

“In a period when supervision was lax or non-existent, there was often no other adult present with you. It was left to the boys in the church football team to take their own steps eventually to make sure that none would be left alone with you if they required treatment.

“It’s disturbing that when some of the boys gathered the courage to speak to other team managers the matter was not addressed.

“You were not allowed any further activity with the church team, but you were free to go to Celtic Boys Club – even receiving a send-off – and your behaviour continued there.”

The sheriff said that while Cairney had gone on to enjoy a long, productive life, his victims had told the court of the “profound” effect his abuse had on them.

As well as jailing him, Sheriff Kelly put Cairney on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

On the surface it seemed idyllic