Swinney wants SFA inquiry on sex abuse

JOHN Swinney has called on the Scottish Football Association to set up an independent inquiry into allegations of historic child abuse.

The Deputy First Minister has refused to widen the remit of the Scottish Government’s current investigation into the abuse of children in residential care – despite pleas from survivors.

The latest calls for the inquiry’s remit to be expanded follow investigations by Police Scotland and forces across the UK into reports of abuse at football clubs across the country.

But while Mr Swinney says this cannot be included in the present probe, he has called on the SFA to conduct its own independent inquiry.

He said it should be conducted by ‘an authoritative, independent, respected figure’ who could consider the issue ‘without fear or favour’.

Asked on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Politics if he would extend the remit of the existing probe, Mr Swinney said: ‘I won’t do that.

‘Survivor groups tell me they want it to proceed, they don’t want the timescale extended – which would be an inevitable consequence of extending into other sectors, whether that is football or any other sector.

‘The police have got to be given time and space to address any complaints made by any individual who has had the awful experience of being affected by child abuse within football.

‘The SFA has to consider setting up an independent inquiry. It should be conducted by an authoritative, independent, respected figure who will be able to look at these issues without fear or favour. I think that’s a necessity of the current situation football in Scotland finds itself in.’

Last night, an SFA spokesman said: ‘We are open to the possibility of an independent review, but with the right scope and terms of reference.’

The SFA is due to meet Police Scotland today to discuss issues surrounding the allegations.

The [English] Football Association has already commissioned an independent investigation.

Last week, former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith called for an inquiry. He said it should look at how clubs and national bodies responded to allegations.

Mr Smith spoke out after Partick Thistle confirmed physiotherapist John Hart, who died in 1995, was dismissed in 1992 after allegations of abuse were made.

It has also been disclosed that former youth coach and referee Hugh Stevenson was allowed to carry on working in football for several years after being reported to the SFA and police over child sex offences.

Last week, former Celtic youth coach Jim McCafferty was charged with a child sex offence in Northern Ireland. He has also been linked to a string of assaults on Scottish youth players.

Nicola Sturgeon said the disclosures had ‘sickened’ her.

Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘Kezia Dugdale called for the remit of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry to be extended. It is difficult to see how an SFAcommissioned inquiry, effectively into itself, could hold public confidence. This is a matter the Scottish Government should be leading on.’

Meanwhile, fresh allegations were made in a Sunday newspaper over how Hibernian handled claims a youth scout had molested boys in the mid-1980s.

Gordon Neely worked at the club before leaving abruptly for Rangers.

It was alleged Hibs chairman Kenny Waugh sacked Neely, who died two years ago, but failed to inform police to protect the club’s reputation.

Neely was dismissed by Rangers manager Graeme Souness in 1990 when fresh allegations of abusing a youth team player came to light.

The latest allegations were made by freelance journalist Ray Hepburn.

Hibs said they had ‘no record’ of any complaints against Neely while he was at the club. A spokesman said: ‘We would encourage Mr Hepburn to go to the police with his information.’

The UK-wide scandal is growing, with more than 600 complaints to police and 86 suspects at 98 clubs.

‘Look at this without fear or favour’