The daughter of one of predator Jim McCafferty’s victims last night claimed he killed her dad.
Annie Grant said John Gaffney drank himself to death.
McCafferty was Former Celtic youth coach Jim McCafferty jailed for sex attacks on young boys yesterday for six years and nine months for abusing 10 boys over 20 years.
But tragic John’s family won justice after taking the former footballer’s damning accounts of abuse to detectives after the Daily Record sparked the major inquiry into McCafferty’s vile life as a serial sex predator.
John was just 48 when he drank himself to death in 2013.
He had found it impossible to cope with the demons inflicted on him by pervert McCafferty’s abuse 30 years earlier.
After reading our revelations, John’s ex-wife Linda retrieved a story from the Record’s archive in the 90s that reported earlier suspicions over McCafferty.
Pervert ex-Celtic coach 'exploited dreams of football kids to satisfy sexual depravity'
She then told police details of John’s experience at the hands of the trusted coach.
They were backed up by other witnesses, meaning McCafferty was called to account for his crimes – six years after John’s death.
McCafferty had preyed on John between 1975 and 1984, when he was managing Fauldhouse United – formed from a merger of local teams in West Lothian.
John’s daughter Annie Grant said last night she felt relief that justice has been done and hopes the monster will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Dental receptionist Annie, 25, said: “It can’t change what happened and it won’t bring my dad back but it does allow family members to feel that justice has been done.
“We’ve been left with hurt for the rest of our lives.
“And I believe other families connected to victims of this man will have been forced to deal with life problems that arise from the mental damage he inflicted on people.
“McCafferty tried to play down what he did but he was a predator.
“He doesn’t deserve to have any part of his life outside prison and I will be happier if he dies in jail.”
Annie said her dad struggled hard to live a normal life and couldn’t put the demons behind him. She said: “He struggled so hard to get through life with this and when he finally snapped, he changed in an instant.
“He became a recluse and couldn’t find the courage to leave the house. He couldn’t work and turned to drink.
“He promised he would get over it and really wanted to be able to help counsel people battling addictions.
“He was hoping to do a college course but wasn’t able to fulfil those ambitions.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, or anyone else’s, that my dad’s death was down to James McCafferty.
“My mum told me a lot of stuff about his behaviour that was so obviously linked to the abuse.
“My dad was told by his doctor that if he kept drinking, he would die. He knew where he was heading but kept going because he couldn’t find a way out.
“He would still be alive today if it wasn’t for what that man did to him.”
During times when John stopped drinking, he started abusing himself, cutting his arms.
Former Celtic youth coach Jim McCafferty jailed for sex attacks on young boys
Annie said that her dad was very open with her mum about the abuse he suffered but remained a charismatic and funny man, who was loved by the family.
She added: “He was the most popular guy and he really made me laugh like no one else I have ever met.
“He used alcohol to numb the pain of what he was left with.”
Annie said she regrets that her dad never got to meet his eight-month-old grandson Theo John – named after him.
She said: “Theo was born in October and it would have been the happiest time for dad. I will be telling Theo all about him when he is old enough.”
Annie said she still talks to her dad, visiting his grave to recall happier times.
She said: “I go along and have taken Theo with me. I have chats to him as I stand there, which helps me feel connected.
“I know he will be looking down on us and I hope he’s proud of us all.”
