Bungling Nats MSP sparks fury by comparing Celtic Boys Club abuse scandal to Rangers tax dodge
Politician John Mason suggested 'parallels' between sex monsters and Gers keeping cash from public coffers in their EBT loan scheme
NATS MSP John Mason compared the Celtic Boys Club sex abuse scandal to Rangers avoiding tax.
The politician sparked outrage by suggesting there were “parallels” between beasts preying on children and the Ibrox side keeping cash from public coffers.
The Glasgow Shettleston MSP said: “In both cases young people are suffering.”
And now a Celtic Boys Club abuse victim has blasted John Mason’s “warped sense of reality”.
The tormented survivor, 51, rubbished claims the Ibrox club’s controversial EBT system harmed kids in a similar way to footie pervs by keeping cash from schools and hospitals.
He insisted the cases were “totally different” and said he was “utterly shocked” by the MSP’s comments made in an email to a constituent.
Celtic Boys Club paedos were same as Savile with sick 'dreams come true' vow
The man, who was targeted by sex beasts Frank Cairney and Jim McCafferty as a boy, said: “There were innocent children — myself included — at the receiving end of incredible, unbelievable behaviour that could and should have been stopped decades ago.
“For him to even try to compare an EBT situation with innocent child victims of abuse is quite frankly breathtaking.
“I don’t see how they are connected but in Scotland we’re always going to get this tit-for-tat nonsense in society.”
Mr Mason’s remarks came after a constituent demanded a public inquiry into the Boys Club’s historic abuse scandal.
Mr Mason said he understood the request was a “natural response”.
But he added that it was a matter of “judgement” as to whether to hold probes into Celtic or Rangers “when they do something wrong”.
He said he believed there were “some parallels” between the sickening abuse and former Rangers staff and players receiving wages in the form of tax-free loans.
The Glasgow Shettleston MSP wrote in his email: “In both cases young people are suffering. In the one children are suffering directly at the hands of child abusers.
“In the other very rich people are not paying the tax due which means schools and hospitals get less money than they need. I do accept they are different types of crimes, but they are both crimes with real victims, usually the most vulnerable in our society.”
The backbencher’s blunder is the latest in a string of gaffes, including suggesting a disabled Celtic fan should ditch the club after moaning about car space issues at Parkhead.
Labour MSP James Kelly said: “These comments show how detached John Mason is from reality.”
A Tory spokesman added: “These remarks will go down very poorly with anyone who’s ever suffered at the hands of a child sex abuser.”
Most Read in News
Mr Mason said he was “frequently” asked to join in a “vendetta” against the Old Firm rivals.
But he said: “Both clubs have done things wrong or have links to individuals who have done things wrong.”
The SNP added: “Everyone agrees child abuse is abhorrent.”
We told how kitman McCafferty, 73, became the fourth Celtic Boys Club fiend exposed for abuse. Coaches Cairney, 83, and Jim Torbett, 71, plus ex-chairman Gerald King, 66, were all nailed in court.
Ex-Ibrox chief Sir David Murray admitted the £47million employee benefit trust scheme lured stars the club couldn’t afford before its meltdown in 2012.
LATEST IN LINE OF GAFFES
JOHN Mason’s latest gaffe comes after a string of previous comments that have sparked outrage and seen him slammed for his insensitivity.
FEBRUARY 2016: Mr Mason admitted he didn’t know the difference between the national debt and national deficit.
JANUARY 2017: The Nat was accused of trivialising rape after comparing a second indy vote to pestering a woman when she won’t say “Yes”.
FEBRUARY 2017: Nicola Sturgeon, left, apologised after Mr Mason claimed the IRA killers of three Scots squaddies could be considered “freedom fighters”.
MAY 2017: He was mocked for questioning a focus on literacy by saying: “What level of literacy is needed to have an IT career?”
SEPTEMBER 2017: At Holyrood, Mr Mason questioned whether Skye was actually a “real island” because it was connected to the mainland by a bridge.
MAY 2018: The Nat suggested a disabled Celtic fan should support another club instead after he complained about a lack of match-day parking near Parkhead.
MARCH 2019: The backbencher stunned parly’s economy committee by suggesting women may not like working outdoors when he asked a building industry expert if moves towards “constructing things more inside” might “attract more women”.
We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@the-sun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200