Celtic FC reached settlements in 2025 with 24 men who had brought claims through group proceedings in Scotland over sexual abuse suffered at Celtic Boys Club. The survivors, including former player Declan Roche, alleged a pattern of abuse by club officials, while Celtic FC previously maintained the Boys Club was a separate organisation before eventually apologizing for the events.
Declan Roche breaks silence on Celtic Boys Club abuse
Declan Roche, who moved from Dublin to Glasgow at age 15 to pursue a professional football career, has spoken publicly for the first time about being sexually assaulted by a manager at Celtic Boys Club. Roche stated he was first assaulted by then-manager Frank Cairney in the dressing room shower area of Celtic Park after a game.
Roche described the abuse as continuing on a number of occasions, including when Cairney approached him under the pretence of inspecting an injury. He told Prime Time that he kept the abuse secret for decades because he wanted to maintain his ambitions of becoming a professional player. He now describes the decision to move to Glasgow as probably the biggest mistake of his life.
Did you know?
Following a conviction for the sexual abuse of boys at the club starting in the 1980s, Frank Cairney was imprisoned in 2019. In 2023, an examination of facts hearing took place, which concluded he indecently assaulted three players, including Declan, after Cairney was found unfit to stand trial because of his health.
Legal battles and the ‘separate entities’ defense
For years, Celtic FC maintained that Celtic Boys Club was a separate organisation. However, Patrick McGuire, a partner at Glasgow-based law firm Thompsons Solicitors who led the case, described the abuse at the Boys Club as the worst instance of abuse at any sports institution in the UK.
Through group proceedings, legal counsel for the survivors were able to obtain records spanning several decades of the Boys Club’s history, representing victims who were abused from the ’70s through the ’90s. This evidence challenged the club’s stance. Following these developments, Celtic FC removed ‘separate entities’ from recent statements and agreed to compensation payouts with 24 men in April 2025.
Mark Daly, an investigative reporter for the BBC, observed that it was a difficult struggle to determine the depth of the connection between Celtic FC and Celtic Boys Club, a process marked by a period of denial from Celtic FC. In its eventual statement, Celtic FC said it was “appalled by any form of historic abuse” and had “great sympathy for those who suffered abuse and for their families”.
Wider patterns of abuse in Scottish football
The abuse at Celtic Boys Club formed part of a wider pattern of abuse across Scottish football. In 2021, an independent review regarding sexual abuse in Scottish football was released, while a Police Scotland probe found more than 150 victims of sexual abuse linked to football.
The power dynamics played a significant role. Roche noted that Celtic Boys Club was a very strong boys club, connected to Celtic, and if you played for Celtic Boys Club it was an honour in ways that Cairney would have used well.
Case Precedent:
The group proceedings allowed lawyers representing survivors to take advantage of what the Scottish courts allow in terms of group proceedings and document recovery for people abused over all of that period of time.
Long-term impact and recovery
Roche stated that his relationships were impacted and a gambling addiction developed as a result of the trauma he experienced while playing for the club. He only began to consider speaking about the abuse in 2018 after watching a BBC documentary about sexual abuse in Scottish football, The Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game, and seeing a former Celtic Boys Club teammate speaking publicly about his own experience.
Now living in China, where he teaches football and works to develop the sport, Roche describes it as his “dream job” and has won five teaching awards for his work. Despite what happened to him as a teenager, he says his love of football has remained. He hopes speaking publicly about the abuse he suffered will encourage other survivors to come forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the founder of Celtic Boys Club?
Jim Torbett founded the club in 1966; he was among a number of men associated with the Boys Club convicted of sexually abusing young players.
What is the current status of the legal claims against Celtic FC?
Celtic FC reached agreements for compensation payouts in April 2025 with 24 men who utilized group proceedings for their claims, although Mr McGuire suggests that further claims and cases are expected.
How did the club respond to the allegations?
After initially putting forward separation as a form of denial, Celtic FC eventually stated it took the abuse extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations and was very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys’ Club.
Do you have insights on how sports institutions can better protect youth athletes? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more investigative reports.
Related reading