A FORMER Celtic Football Club youth coach who sexually abused teenage players in Scotland has died in prison.
The Scottish Prison Service said Jim McCafferty (76) died at HMP Glenochil on November 19.
A statement on its website read: "Police Scotland have been notified and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. A fatal accident inquiry will be held in due course."
McCafferty, who was originally from Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, was involved in football from the 1980s. He was a coach and kit man for the Celtic youth team, who also worked for Celtic Boys Club. In 2019, he admitted 12 charges related to child sex abuse against 10 teenage boys between 1972 and 1996. He also admitted a further charge of breach of the peace.
McCafferty was jailed for more than six years after admitting the string of historic sexual offences against young boys. At the time he was already serving a jail term for abuse in Belfast.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard at the time that McCafferty abused his position of power and used his intimidating physique to carry out a campaign of "sexual depravity" against budding footballers.
The incidents took place in several locations across Scotland - including team showers, hotel rooms and mini buses - over several decades from the 1970s onwards.
The court also heard that among the complainers were former professional footballers.
