A Lanarkshire paedophile who preyed on young footballers has died in prison.
Former kitman and coach Jim McCafferty was jailed for a catalogue of abuse against young boys - he died at HMP Glenochil on Saturday, November 19.
The 76-year-old, who lived in Wishaw before moving to Northern Ireland, previously worked at Celtic, Hibernian and Falkirk, as well as coaching at a number of youth clubs.
He was convicted at Edinburgh High Court in 2019 for a string of sex attacks on players stretching back to 1972.
During the trial, he admitted 10 charges of indecent assault and one of lewd and libidinous behaviour against boys aged as young as 11.
One of his victims was attacked at Celtic Park while others were assaulted at hotels, training grounds and in his car.
It was the second time he appeared in the dock, after he was jailed for three years and nine months in 2018, after admitting eight counts of sexual assault on a 14-year-old victim in Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2015.
The Scottish Prison Service confirmed his death in a statement on their website.
His death has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, with a Fatal Accident Inquiry to be held in due course.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service said: “James McCafferty, 76, a prisoner at HMP Glenochil, has died on Saturday, November 19, 2022. He was convicted at Edinburgh High Court in 2019.
“Police Scotland have been notified and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held in due course.”
In 2016, a former member of the Craigneuk Colts football team told how McCafferty tried to cuddle and wrestle boys in their dorm while he was naked during a week-long trip to Austria.
The ex-player, who asked not to be named at that time, also revealed how McCafferty slept in the same room as a 14-year-old boy during the seven-day tour.
Speaking exclusively to the Wishaw Press about the ordeal, he recalled: “We went to Austria for the the summer.
“We were there for a week and during that time he slept in one room with another boy. He wasn’t from Craigneuk, he just appeared with Jim one night at training.
“All the boys in the team thought it was strange but what could we do?
“He would come into our room every night completely naked and try to cuddle you or wrestle with you. It was weird and we knew that even then.
“It was the main reason why I left the team. He was also a bully and was very intimidating for 11 and 12-year-old boys.
“I also know from a friend who stayed with the team when I left that after they finished training he would come in and shower naked with the boys.
“Why would you do that? He hadn’t been running around. I remember McCafferty wanted to take one or two boys away to Germany and I really wanted to go because I knew he had connections to several football clubs.
“But my mum and dad were very suspicious of him. They didn’t take to him at all so I wasn’t allowed.
“I thanked them a couple of years later. I knew then he was very strange.”
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and share.
