What Did Celtic Chairman Kevin Kelly Know?

Celtic Chairman Kevin Kelly pictured with Jimmy Savile among others.

Of the four companies that Jim Torbett was involved in Celtic Chairman Kevin Kelly was involved with three of them.

PLANROLE LIMITED Dissolved CENTENARY SCOTCH WHISKY LIMITED Dissolved THE TROPHY CENTRE LIMITED

More worryingly though during my investigations I found a fourth company that Convicted Paedophile Jim Torbett was a director in

FAIRBRIDGE IN SCOTLAND Dissolved (Director Resigned 20/02/1997)

FAIRBRIDGE IN SCOTLAND appears to be a charity involved with helping young people.

I’m glad to say that the date of his resignation was over a year before he was brought to justice but in the midst of the whole Celtic boys club scandal.

But this begs the question DID Jim Torbett have access to young children there to?

That is for another day.

I find it astonishing that Celtic Chairman Kevin Kelly so close to someone as to be part of three of the four companies he was a director or indeed owner of said companies would not know what type of man he was.

I mean if you are going to go into business not once but thrice with someone. Trust your livelihood with someone you should be at least be a good judge of the person’s character one would suggest.

In my humble opinion this link between former Celtic Chairman Kevin Kelly and convicted Sexual deviant Jim Torbett suggests to me that their association with each other transcended just business.

I believe it was a close personal friendship and here’s why.

Jim Torbett had a regular seat in the Parkhead directors’ box as guest of his pal, Celtic Chairman Kevin Kelly.

Hugh Birt during the 80’s had bravely came forward to Hugh Birt raised the claims with then Celtic vice-chairman Kevin Kelly after complaints were made by parents that boys were being taken away for weekends when no games were involved and sexually abused.

There were also fears that Torbett was taking boys to non-existent weekend tournaments

Kevin Kelly, promised to investigate and the claims were reported to the Boys’ Club committee. But minutes from that meeting have vanished.

Kevin Kelly passed the issue to manager David Hay also at the time.

Kevin Kelly, along with convicted paedophile Jim Torbett and boys’ club general manager Frank Cairney who also was accused of abusing boys in his care ask Hugh Birt to resign.

When he refused, Celtic withdrew his ticket to the directors’ box and he had no option but to get out.

Hugh Birt said at the time: “It appears the Celtic board want to look in the other direction in the hope the trouble will go away.”

Jim Torbett invited Kelly to become a director of the Trophy Centre chain.

It is not clear why a man like convicted paedophile Jim Torbett who at the time was widely regarded as a child abuser was allowed back into a position of responsibility at the boys’ club.

Maybe Kevin Kelly, who was still honorary president of the boys’ club, who was fellow director of Torbett’s company The Trophy Centre along with fellow Celtic board member Jack McGinn was also an employee could answer that?

TIMELINE

1966: Celtic Boys’ Club is founded by Jim Torbett with the backing of Sir Robert Kelly Celtic Chairman backed by Kevin Kellys Uncle Celtic Chairman Sir Robert Kelly.

1971: Celtic Chairman Sir Robert Kelly Dies. Kevin Kelly takes his place on the board.

1972: Jock Stein ousts Jim Torbett as Boys’ Club general manager after allegations that boys were being sexually abused. He is replaced by Frank Cairney. Hugh Birt, a photographer and Celtic associate, is made chairman.

1970s: The Boys’ Club prospers and produces some great talent including Tommy Burns, Paul McStay, Roy Aitken, Peter Grant. But during that era, rumours of abuse are rife.

1986: Jim Torbett’s return to Celtic Boys Club as a fundraiser Kevin Kelly is vice-chairman

1989: Kevin Kelly becomes a director in CENTENARY SCOTCH WHISKY LIMITED along with Jim Torbett.

1989: Kevin Kelly becomes Manager in General Managers Jim Torbetts THE TROPHY CENTRE LIMITED Company.

1991: Kevin Kelly becomes Celtic Chairman

1991: Kevin Kelly becomes a director in PLANROLE LIMITED along with Jim Torbett

1991: Frank Cairney resigns as general manager and part-time coach at Celtic Football Club following a trip to New Jersey where a young Celt was allegedly abused.

1994: Kevin Kelly is ousted as Celtic Chairman

October 25, 1996: Jim Torbett charged with sex offences.

November 4, 1998: Torbett stands trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with molesting three youngsters in his care including Alan Brazil.

November 12, 1998: Torbett is found guilty.

15 August 2005: Kevin Kelly retires from the trophy centre