A fatal accident inquiry into the death of former Celtic youth team coach James McCafferty has concluded that he died from the effects of heart disease.

The 76-year-old was found dead in his cell at HMP Glenochil on November 19, 2022 and it has now been determined that he died after a period of deteriorating health and there was no accidents involved in his passing.

The inquiry into his death was legally mandated due to the fact he had died while serving time in prison and was to establish the circumstances surrounding his death and whether different steps could have been taken to prevent it.

The inquiry concluded that there was no accident involved and then said ‘the cause of death was complications of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease’ and there were no reasonable precautions that could have been taken to prevent the death.

At the time of his death he was subject to mandatory two hour checks by carers who were accompanied by prison officers due to his ill health.

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He had been noted as sleepy but not complaining of feeling unwell at midnight and 2am but at 4am he was found to have died in the two hours prior to that.

Following the publication of the determination, Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS said: “We note and welcome the Sheriff’s determination.   

“The Procurator Fiscal ensured that the full facts and circumstances of Mr McCafferty’s death were provided at the mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiry.” 

McCafferty, who admitted 12 charges related to child sex abuse against 10 teenage boys between 1972 and 1996, was jailed in 2019 for his crimes.

They included indecent assault, lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour and breach of the peace and he was sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment.

McCafferty worked for Celtic after joining in 1990 and became a kitman for the youth team in 1994, where he remained until 1996 until he resigned amid allegations about his behaviour.

Allegations were passed to the police at the time but he was able to get a job working for Hibs in a similar role two years later before joining Falkirk. He moved to Northern Ireland later and was arrested in 2016 before being jailed for three years after being found guilty of abusing a boy.

Most of his victims played for youth teams which he ran in North Lanarkshire, with four who playing for Celtic Boys Club and Celtic Youth Team between the ages of 14 and 17.