Celtic to access tax records of sex abuse coaches in bid to prove they didn't work for club

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Celtic will be given access to the tax records of two coaches who sexually abused young football players in a bid to prove they never worked for the club.Lawyers for the Parkhead side asked for permission to scrutinise private Inland Revenue information for the disgraced coaches.A judge granted the request during a hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Thursday.The hearing forms part of the US-style ‘class action’ lawsuit brought by around 25 survivors of historical abuse at Celtic Boys Club.Celtic has repeatedly claimed the boys club was a separate entity from the senior side.But players who turned out for the feeder side say they are intrinsically linked as they pursue a multi-million pound damages claim against Celtic.Four men associated with Celtic Boys Club or Celtic have been convicted of sex abuse crimes.Roddy Dunlop KC, acting for Celtic, told the hearing their legal team wanted to check the tax records for ex-boys club manager Frank Cairney and its founder Jim Torbett.Mr Dunlop said the Inland Revenue files would allow them to determine if the pair were “employed by Celtic or indeed anyone else”.He added: “We are just trying to square off everything.“We need to do everything we can and this is part of doing everything we can.”Ian Mackay KC, acting for the survivors, said Celtic were seeking the “confidential” tax records of “two witnesses” without their consent.Mr Mackay said it was their position that Cairney was “employed” by Celtic and cited a letter of resignation the shamed coach allegedly sent.He said Cairney “resigned from his part-time employment” in the letter.Mr Mackay said Celtic deny Cairney worked for the club and contend it was “a fantasy on behalf of Cairney”.He told the court the