The daughter of one of Ex-Celtic Boys Club manager Frank Cairney's victims has been left 'disgusted' after the beast was seen taking daily exercise walks in his community just days after he was deemed 'unfit to stand trial' over historic sex abuse allegations. The woman, who has asked not to be named, has been left furious after her now deceased dad's abuser was excused from attending his trial after his lawyers argued that he suffered from “health problems”, including dementia.
Court proceedings took place between January 23 and 25, before a sheriff determined that the convicted paedophile had preyed on a further three teenage boys between July 1978 and June 1989. A Daily Record investigation found that 87-year-old Cairney has been taking regular morning walks alone near his Uddingston home, just yards from a busy primary school.
Residents in the area have also spotted him travelling to a local shop, close to a nearby Boys Club training ground. Sick predator Cairney was pictured leaving his terraced house in the small town, just minutes after children passed by on their walk to school.
Dressed in a thick black ‘puffer’ jacket and hat, which covered most of his face, Cairney was seen looking around the area before setting off up a hill at quick pace, before turning into a small grassy park. On his route, which lasted around 20 minutes, he continued his walk through some residential streets and back towards the school before returning to his own home.
When confronted about how he could walk freely around his own community and carry out daily tasks despite being considered unfit for trial, an enraged Cairney told our reporter: “How dare you come to my door, how dare you? You're not allowed to come to this door. I’ll get the police on you. Beat it. Beat it", before slamming his door shut.
The daughter of his victim, who was preyed upon by Cairney in the 1970s, told the Daily Record: "Cairney's ill health has been considered. But what about the ill health and abuse and trauma he caused his victims when they were just innocent children?
"My dad didn't get the freedom to live his life to the full because of what that beast did to him. He suffered with it for 45 years before he died because Cairney caused him unimaginable pain and suffering, but he has the freedom to roam and do whatever he wants. It's wrong. It's disgusting.
"He will always be a risk to society. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that he can walk down the street and lay his eyes upon children."
Cairney was previously jailed for four years in 2019 for abuse of seven boys. He was released in August 2020 following an appeal. The court proceedings concluded that Cairney attacked the three boys in the shower room and dressing room of the Celtic Park's Barrowfield training ground while he was on duty.
He also carried out his abuse on a team trip to Aviemore and in his car on multiple occasions. Ahead of the trial, Mr Cairney's lawyer Andrew Crosbie told Sheriff Tom Hughes: "You are aware that Mr Cairney is unfortunately unfit to stand trial.
“You have had sight of expert reports and that it is the unequivocal opinion of a doctor from September and two other doctors. My friend and I agree that it's impossible for him to stand trial on this matter."
Cairney, who had previously given largely "no comment" responses to the allegations before stating, "It never happened”, was excused as the trial continued. Giving his verdict, Sheriff Tom Hughes said: "I took the view that the crimes charged were so closely linked by the character, the circumstances of their commission and in time as to bind them together as part of a single course of criminal conduct systematically pursued by Cairney.
"On the balance of probabilities, there are no grounds for acquitting Cairney and I make findings to that effect. The victims gave evidence on what must have been very difficult circumstances for them. They gave their evidence with great dignity and I hope they can put the circumstances of these offences behind them and start to move on with their lives."
Mr Allan did not move for sentence after the verdict and asked that the case be "deserted pro loco et tempore" due to the legal provisions of Cairney being unfit for trial. He added: "This is on the basis of the medical reports before the court."
A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: “The disposal in this case was a matter for the presiding sheriff following an examination of facts.”
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