JOHN CULLEN FROM POLLOKSHAWS INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE AT CELTIC PARK

In May 2004, a disturbing case involving John Cullen, a 49-year-old former photographer associated with Celtic FC, came to light in Glasgow. Cullen was found guilty of engaging in the indecent photographing of young boys and subsequently appeared in Glasgow Sheriff Court to face the charges.

According to court records, Cullen had taken children as young as ten back to his flat, where he persuaded them to pose for photographs. The images, which numbered approximately 250, depicted the boys in various states of nudity and semi-nudity. Cullen’s actions raised serious concerns about child exploitation and abuse, prompting a police investigation that uncovered these illicit images.

The case was initially uncovered in May 2002 when cleaning staff at Celtic Park, where Cullen had stored his photographic equipment, discovered a black bin bag. Upon inspection, they found bundles of black and white photographs showing nude and semi-naked young boys. Recognizing the severity of the discovery, the staff immediately contacted law enforcement authorities. Celtic FC officials also questioned Cullen, who admitted to inviting children to a house in Glasgow in 1982, where he took the photographs.

Following the discovery, Cullen was dismissed from Celtic in June 2002. Several of his former colleagues, including Celtic View editor Joe Sullivan and club security chief Ronnie Hawthorn, were scheduled to testify against him. Despite ongoing investigations, police efforts to identify the victims proved challenging. Specialist assistance from Scotland Yard’s paedophile unit was enlisted, but the victims’ identities remain unknown. Prosecutor Liz Ramsey indicated that the boys were believed to be between ten and thirteen years old.

Cullen’s court proceedings faced multiple delays, with his first appearance occurring in October 2003. The case was adjourned several times to allow police to gather further evidence and attempt to identify the victims. The investigation’s complexity underscored the difficulty in tracing the children involved.

During the court hearing, Cullen pleaded guilty to charges of lewd and libidinous behavior. His defense attorney, Sharon Gardener, acknowledged that Cullen recognized he had personal issues that required professional help. The court ultimately sentenced Cullen to three years of probation, avoiding a custodial sentence. Sheriff Susan Raeburn QC warned Cullen that any breach of his probation would result in a return to court and the imposition of a custodial sentence.

Reactions to the sentence were mixed, with a children’s charity, Children First, expressing outrage. A spokeswoman from the organization emphasized the importance of protecting children and ensuring offenders are not released back into society without proper intervention. She stated, “Behind every indecent image of a child, there’s a real child. Children depend on adults to keep them safe. It is essential that the offending behavior is addressed and that offenders are not released back on to the streets to repeat such crimes against children. We must show children that they can come forward to tell about their experiences.”