A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is to be held into the death of Kenneth Divers, the former Celtic scout who was jailed for sexually abusing four young boys. Divers died in prison last year, and the inquiry will examine the circumstances surrounding his death.
Abuse spanning decades
Divers, who scouted young players for Celtic in the 1980s and 1990s, targeted four children as young as 11. The abuse took place between 1968 and 1992, with one incident at Hampden Park and others at schools in Paisley, Renfrewshire.
He was a prisoner at HMP Low Moss when he died at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on February 2 last year, aged 80. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) announced on Monday that a preliminary hearing will be held at Glasgow Sheriff Court on November 25.
Extradition and sentencing
Divers was extradited from Vietnam to face justice and sentenced to five years at Paisley Sheriff Court in June 2023. He had fled Scotland for Dubai in 2013 before settling in Vietnam, and was brought back to Scotland in 2022 after an Interpol 'Red Notice' was issued.
One victim was so damaged by the abuse that he made repeated attempts to take his own life, including walking out in front of a car after being abused at a Scotland v England match. The victim explained how Divers wanted to take him and another four boys on a trip to Spain, but he did not want to go. After leaving the game, he stepped in front of a moving car and suffered a broken femur.
Grooming and sentencing remarks
Divers maintained his innocence but accepted being found unanimously guilty of five charges. Sheriff Brian Mohan then slammed the "selfish" pensioner for his actions and said his victims had been left mentally scarred.
Sheriff Mohan said at the time: "You befriended the family of most of the victims, allowing you to carry out abuse of these young boys in private - behaviour now recognised as grooming." He said the victims "are now mature men" and the abuse had "a devastating effect" on them, adding: "They were able to open up on the shame, embarrassment and guilt your abuse made them feel. You have no consideration for anyone but yourself and came up with this preposterous idea that these men got together to cause you trouble."
Purpose of the inquiry
An FAI's purpose includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the death occurred; and to establish what steps, if any, could have been taken to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on deaths investigations for COPFS, said: "The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Kenneth Divers occurred whilst he was in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff."
