A FORMER Celtic FC youth coach and kitman will be sentenced next month for sexually abusing a young boy after a last-minute change of plea yesterday.
Jim McCafferty (72) was involved in football in Scotland and Ireland from the 1980s.
He initially denied the offences and was due to stand trial at Belfast Crown Court where he faced eight separate charges of sexually assaulting the youth over a period spanning from December 2012 to December 2015.
McCafferty, originally from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire but more recently living in Raby Street in Belfast, appeared in court with the use of a walking aid, and did not have to enter the dock of the court.
Prior to the trial starting Patrick Taylor, the barrister representing McCafferty, asked that the charges be put his client again.
The pensioner was first asked "Are you James McCafferty?" to which he replied "I am." He was then charged with intentionally touching a boy under 16, and that the touching was sexual and done without consent. When asked by the clerk how he pleaded to that charge, McCafferty answered "guilty, Your Honour."
A further seven charges "of a similar nature" were also put to him, and when asked how he pleaded to these offences, he again replied "guilty, Your Honour."
Mr Taylor asked Judge Patricia Smyth to allow time for the completion of a pre-sentence report, telling the court medical reports on his client have already been completed.
Although no details of the offences - or the defendant or complainant - emerged during yesterday's brief hearing, McCafferty was arrested in December 2016 after giving an interview to a newspaper.
Following the guilty pleas, Judge Smyth said she would hear the plea on Friday June 22. McCafferty - dressed in a grey jumper and grey tracksuit bottoms - was remanded back into custody.
The case has been adjourned until June 22.
