TORY MSP Adam Tomkins has been criticised after he appeared to make a joke about child sex abuse at Celtic Boys Club on Twitter.
Jackson Carlaw’s new shadow cabinet secretary for strategy – a staunch Rangers fan – took to social media on Thursday night after Celtic were knocked out of the Europa League by Copenhagen.
The Tory tweeted: “Not the best week for Celtic, then..... #SorryNotSorry”
Users of the social media site were certain the MSP was referring to news that Celtic could be pilloried in a report commissioned by the Scottish Football Association on child sexual abuse.
READ MORE: Adam Tomkins slammed as 'misogynistic and pathetic' in smacking ban row
No fewer than four former coaches of the Celtic Boys Club have been convicted of abusing boys.
Celtic FC has always maintained that Celtic Boys Club is a separate entity.
But speaking to Channel 4 News, Martin Henry, chair of the Independent Review into Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football, said the club had an “inescapable” obligation to accept responsibility for the crimes of Celtic Boys Club.
It’s speculated that Celtic FC could face “millions of pounds” in compensation claims.
Responding to Tomkins’ joke, Joanna Barrett, who works for the NSPCC said: “To be so flippant about the sexual abuse of children is unedifying and wrong. Please do better.”
Commentator Gerry Hassan tweeted: “This is not a good look for a national Scottish Tory MSP who is an academic and sees himself as a thinker and intellectual.
“Engaging in wilfully partisan and puerile football points having a dig at Celtic from a Rangers perspective.”
Glasgow college lecturer James McEnaney tweeted: “Oh good. A serving MSP who is supposed to be a Very Sensible And Clever Man making light of historic sexual abuse.”
Earlier this week the club said they were “very sorry” about the abuse in the boys club for the first time.
They have previously only spoken of their regret.
In a statement made just hours before Channel 4’s investigation into football “paedophile rings” aired on TV, the club said they were “very sorry that these events took place”.
“The abuse of young people is an abhorrent crime. Unfortunately it has affected many areas of society.”
The statement continued: “With regard to the allegations regarding historic abuse at Celtic Boys Club (which, so far as we have been made aware, relate to the period prior to 1997), although Celtic Football Club is a separate organisation, we take these extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations.
“Police investigations were given support, so as to seek to ensure that those individuals who abused young people were brought to justice.”
Celtic Boys Club founder Jim Torbett, 72, was jailed in November 2018 for six years. He was found guilty of attacks on three boys, including one aged just five.
Former general manager Frank Cairney, 84, was jailed in January 2019 for four years on nine charges of historical abuse.
Fellow Celtic Boys Club coach and Celtic FC man Jim McCafferty, 73, was jailed for six years and nine months.
While former Celtic Boys Club chairman Gerald King, 66, was convicted in December of sexually abusing four boys and a girl while working as a teacher. King, however, was spared jail time, instead being handed a three-year probation order.
Tomkins did not respond to The National’s request for comment.
He has previously been critical of Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, for refusing to meet him to discuss the link between the Parkhead side and Celtic Boys Club.
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