Convicted Celtic Boys Club paedophile Frank Cairney was removed from a property in Motherwell on Tuesday night as members of the community shouted at him to “burn in hell”.
Conviction and previous incidents
The former manager of the Parkhead club’s feeder team was convicted of nine charges of sexually abusing young footballers dating back to the 1980s in 2019. In 2023, he was found responsible for indecently assaulting other young players from the 1970s and 1980s in an examination of facts after a court decided he was unfit to face trial. He has since been moved from property to property in the Lanarkshire area.
In May, his home in Viewpark was targeted by vigilantes who smashed his front windows. The 91-year-old has since been forced out of other properties following community backlash.
Tuesday night eviction
New video footage from Tuesday night appears to show Cairney once again being led away by police while members of the community watch. He is seen using his walking stick to exit the property as he clings to the arm of a female police officer carrying a blue Co-op bag. Members of the community can be heard shouting “I hope your soul burns in hell”, “scum” and “beast”. In another clip, a defiant Cairney appears to challenge the group before being placed in a waiting police vehicle.
It has been suggested there were two similar ‘evictions’ in the Lanarkshire area on Tuesday as locals continue to protest against the housing of convicted or suspected sex offenders in their communities. Similar scenes have been witnessed across Scotland this summer.
Community backlash and wider context
Last month, huge crowds turned out in areas of Glasgow responding to claims sex crime suspects had been placed in their areas. After Cairney was moved earlier this year from another property near Motherwell, a source told our sister paper the Daily Record that he was a “marked man”. They added: “He might be over 90 but people still don’t want him in the area. Hopefully he doesn’t come back as trouble is following him. He’s been chased out by the Facebook vigilantes and they’ll no doubt arrive back if he doesn’t move permanently.”
At least five men connected to Celtic Boys Club have been convicted of sexual abuse over the years. As well as Cairney, club founder Jim Torbett has been convicted and jailed multiple times for abusing young players. Jim McCafferty, a former kit man and coach, Gerard King, a former chairman, and former club secretary Neil Strachan have also been convicted. Campaigners reckon there could be as many as 24 individuals connected to the club involved in abuse.
In 2025, Celtic agreed to pay over £1 million to 24 victims having previously insisted the Boys Club was not connected with the senior side. Police Scotland has been approached for comment.
