Ex-celtic youth coach jailed for three years for sexual abuse of boy

and has been banned from working with children in any capacity.

The judge described the case as a “particularly complex sentencing exercise” but said there was no dispute about the facts.

She said: “You repeatedly sexually assaulted your victim for three years over the period from December 2012 to December 2015 when your victim was a young teenager aged 14 to 16.

“You, on the other hand, were a mature adult aged 66 to 68.

“You ingratiated yourself into your victim’s family, gaining first the trust of his mother, who regarded you as a role model for her children.

“You abused trust placed in you by his family ... assaulting him in your home and his home.

“The impact on your victim and his family has been significant.”

During sentencing, the judge also spoke of health issues faced by Mccafferty, including mobility problems following hip and knee replacements, heart illness and a history of suffering from anxiety and depression.

Judge Smyth also noted Mccafferty had not had an “easy” childhood and had himself been the victim of sexual assaults over the period of a year when he was a young teenager.

“You said it had not had an impact on your life ... it may explain in some part the lack of empathy you have shown to your victim,” she said.

The pensioner first confessed to abusing his victim in December 2016.

Mccafferty lived in Glasgow before moving to Northern Ireland.

He worked at Celtic more than 20 years ago.

Mccafferty was also a kitman at Hibernian as well as Falkirk.