Inquiry into death of former Celtic scout who abused boy at Hampden

An inquiry is to be held into the death of a former Celtic scout who sexually abused a young player at Hampden Park.

Kenneth Divers died aged 80 at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in February last year while a prisoner at HMP Low Moss.

The former teacher became the subject of an international arrest order in September 2021 following allegations of historic sexual abuse to Police Scotland.

Divers was arrested in Vietnam in 2022, nearly a decade after he initially fled Scotland for Dubai.

He appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court in June 2023, where he was found guilty of abusing boys, some as young as 11, at various locations, including Hampden Park and two schools in Paisley, between 1968 and 1992.

Divers was sentenced to five years in prison for non-recent sexual offences against children in Renfrewshire.

A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into his death as it occurred while he was in legal custody.

A preliminary hearing will be held on November 25 at Glasgow Sheriff Court. 

Unlike criminal proceedings, FAIs are inquisitorial in nature and are used to establish facts rather than to apportion blame. 

Procurator fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on deaths investigations for COPFS, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Kenneth Divers occurred whilst he was in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory. 

“The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.”