JOHN O’NEIL FROM NEWMILNS SHAMES EAST KILBRIDE FOOTBALL SCENE IN CHILD ABUSE SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the East Kilbride community, John O’Neil, a man from Newmilns in East Ayrshire, has been found guilty of heinous acts involving the abuse of two 12-year-old boys. The incidents, which took place over two decades ago, have finally come to light after a lengthy investigation into historical child sex abuse within Scottish football.

O’Neil, who falsely presented himself as a football coach despite lacking any formal training, established a youth team in Newmilns. His deception extended to recruiting young boys, promising them opportunities in the sport. However, his true intentions were far more sinister. The court heard that during the process of fitting the boys with new football strips, O’Neil would take them into confined toilet cubicles at Duncanrig Secondary School and Dunedin Pavilion. There, he ordered the boys to strip completely, including their underwear, and proceeded to measure their bodies in a manner that was both inappropriate and abusive.

Specifically, O’Neil measured the boys’ bodies from their crotch to their ankles, a procedure that left the victims feeling deeply embarrassed and violated. The court was told that one of the boys was so distressed by the incident that he confided in someone about what had happened. Despite the initial report to police in 1997, no charges were brought against O’Neil at that time, and he managed to evade prosecution for over twenty years. It was only after a recent police operation targeting historical abuse within Scottish football that O’Neil was re-investigated and ultimately charged.

During the proceedings at Hamilton Sheriff Court, the 52-year-old defendant admitted to two counts of lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behavior towards the young boys. The court was informed that O’Neil had placed an advertisement in a local newspaper seeking boys around the age of 12 to join his new youth team. He described himself as a ‘self-taught’ coach, with no formal qualifications or experience, which further underscored the predatory nature of his actions.

In court, the prosecution detailed how O’Neil instructed the boys to remove their clothing, including their tracksuit bottoms, T-shirts, and underwear, under the guise of measuring them for football gear. The process involved him standing behind the boys, measuring their chests, and then crouching down to measure their naked bodies from the crotch to the ankles in a cramped toilet cubicle. The court heard that the victims were left feeling humiliated and embarrassed by the ordeal.

One of the boys, overwhelmed by the incident, confided in someone, which eventually contributed to the case against O’Neil. The defendant initially denied the allegations during a police interview in 1997, but he later admitted to having no coaching experience and claimed to have no recollection of the events when re-interviewed in 2017. Following the investigation, O’Neil was charged and appeared in court for sentencing.

Sheriff Robert Weir sentenced O’Neil to a three-year supervision order, 250 hours of unpaid community service, and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for three years. The sheriff emphasized that a custodial sentence would not have provided the necessary supervisory elements to protect the public effectively. Additionally, O’Neil was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16, a restriction that aims to prevent any further harm.

This case highlights the long-lasting impact of abuse and the importance of vigilance within community sports and youth organizations. The community of East Kilbride and the wider region continues to grapple with the revelations, which serve as a stark reminder of the need for strict safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable children from predators like John O’Neil.