The Princess of Wales had no idea the boss of her children’s charity is a convicted murderer.
Paul Carberry stabbed a father-to-be on a train five times. Colleagues knew of his past when he was made the £154,000-a-year chief of Action for Children (AfC) in March.
But patron Kate and Prince William were not aware of his crimes when they met him at St John’s Primary School in Port Glasgow a year ago.
Glasgow-born Carberry, 60, was photographed smiling with the couple – then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They then joined others in a discussion about teaching children emotions.
Carberry was only 16 when he carried out his lethal attack. But it did not prevent him becoming boss of AfC, which aims to “protect and support children and young people”. Nor has it prevented him securing a role on the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce in Scotland – with a brief to curb youth gangs.
Yesterday, when confronted about his past, he said: “That’s something I’ve regretted every day of my life. A family did not have their loved one because of me.”
Dad-of-three Carberry knifed John Murray, 21, on a train carrying Scottish football fans to London for a match against England in 1979.
Court reports said Carberry, who had been drinking beer and vodka, was in the Govan Team gang. The train was halted at Warrington, Cheshire.
Carberry was arrested and in December 1979, then aged 17, he was found guilty of murder at Chester Crown Court. In defence he claimed he had confiscated another man’s knife and remembered nothing of the attack after being headbutted by Murray.
Carberry served time at a youth jail and in adult prison before being freed in 1985. He got a job as a social worker and rose high in the profession.
He joined AfC and was its Scottish boss when he met Kate and William at St John’s primary in Inverclyde last May. AfC said the Palace was informed about Carberry’s murder conviction when he became CEO this year.
A spokesperson for AfC said: “The Trustees who appointed Paul Carberry as CEO did so in the full knowledge of his past, which is a matter of public record. He joined AfC as a project manager in 1994 – the organisation had full knowledge of his past.
“Paul has helped support thousands of children and young people including those who have been involved in crime, helping many find jobs, avoid criminal exploitation and reach their full potential. Chair Sarika Patel says he told her his time inside was a turning point and, although he couldn’t change what he did, he’d dedicated his life and rehabilitation to help vulnerable young people.
“All trustees at the charity are aware of his history. Paul told us he did disclose his murder conviction to the Scottish Government before he became a member of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Force.
“Paul has held a number of roles across crime and youth justice bodies in Scotland and has been a leading voice in this area.
“We understand all agencies in Scotland were aware of Paul’s past.”
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