It’s never pleasant to have to confront the sickness of child abuse in football.
It’s even more unpleasant to find a section of fans of a club hoping and praying that children were abused at another club in order to deflect from an ongoing, decades-long, history of abuse by what may have been a series of random individuals but which increasingly looks like a linked group at the club they support.
Sadly, this sickness also infects some journalists in Scotland, and elsewhere, who in pursuit of a story have over the last few years sought to pressurise victims into making statements tailored not to unveil the truth but to attempt to muddy the waters and create a situation where ‘one club was as bad as the other.’
I wouldn’t accuse Daly of any of the above but it is instructive to give that background as the small coterie of journalists working in this area are well-known to one another. By repetition and suggestion hunches and prejudice may become ‘facts.’ That is the culture.
By their very nature, predatory paedophiles are secretive and manipulative - often retaining some control of their victims even into adulthood. The most helpful way to encourage victims to come forward is the pursuit of the truth and the examination of the evidence by the police and courts.
With regard to Daly’s latest story it is instructive to re-familiarise ourselves with the facts. Whilst at Rangers there have been two alleged victims of Gordon Neely and one of Harry Dunn - the number of charges and convictions I leave to journalists to inform us of.
The facts with regard to one of Neely’s victims are reasonably well-known - a parent brought an incident to the notice of the club - the same day Neely was called to a meeting with Souness, Walter Smith and former security executive and ex-police officer Alistair Hood. He was sacked.
Despite the parent not wishing to report the incident to the police Alistair Hood’s advice was that it should be - and this was done. 30 years ago that would have been the Strathclyde force. Given Police Scotland’s recent record in losing files it comes as no surprise that they can’t find paper files from a predecessor organisation about an incident 30 years ago. However, we do have two living witnesses to that meeting.
Daly then reports a story about a club employee confronting the child and complaining about the complaint about Neely. This story is again instructive. In claiming the club was negligent it actually reinforces the argument - as soon as a complaint was made Neely was sacked.
The Rangers News clipping about Neely departure is being used in a manner which would lead you to believe the club were complicit in his behaviour. It’s very short and to the point - and why would a Rangers News employee be expected to know the ins and outs of his departure when it’s the subject of a report to the police about an incredibly serious matter which may, or may not, turn out to be true?
The embarrassment for Celtic fans, is of course, the fawning coverage complete with presentations, pictures and shaking of hands which accompanied Torbett’s departure. And, of course, Torbett was welcomed back.
Lastly, the implication is clearly given that Rangers facilitated Neely continued involvement in football when he set up a private vehicle to run soccer classes. No club, or individual, had or has the ability to stop the activities of a private individual when the police can’t. That is an impossibilist scenario.