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Ex-Celtic director in fraud trial Ex-Celtic director in fraud trial
(about 6 hours later)
A former Celtic director has gone on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, accused of a £2.3m fraud scheme.A former Celtic director has gone on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, accused of a £2.3m fraud scheme.
Dominic Keane, 54, is alleged to have tricked two men into signing up to agreements which bound them to debts owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland.Dominic Keane, 54, is alleged to have tricked two men into signing up to agreements which bound them to debts owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland.
One of the men was another ex-Celtic director, William Haughey, with whom Mr Keane sat on the board in the 1990s.One of the men was another ex-Celtic director, William Haughey, with whom Mr Keane sat on the board in the 1990s.
Mr Keane denies all the charges against him. The trial before judge Lord Turnbull is expected to last two weeks.Mr Keane denies all the charges against him. The trial before judge Lord Turnbull is expected to last two weeks.
Prosecutors claim Mr Keane, who has also been a director of Livingston FC, defrauded Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) between October 1999 and April 2001.Prosecutors claim Mr Keane, who has also been a director of Livingston FC, defrauded Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) between October 1999 and April 2001.
Mr Keane is alleged to have started the scheme by pretending he was part of a partnership raising funding for Livingston Football Club.Mr Keane is alleged to have started the scheme by pretending he was part of a partnership raising funding for Livingston Football Club.
'Partnership letter''Partnership letter'
It is alleged he told an accountant and RBS employee that another partner was Mr Haughey, of City Refrigeration Holdings.It is alleged he told an accountant and RBS employee that another partner was Mr Haughey, of City Refrigeration Holdings.
Mr Haughey, it is claimed, was conned into signing a "partnership letter", thinking it was just a routine business document.Mr Haughey, it is claimed, was conned into signing a "partnership letter", thinking it was just a routine business document.
The charges go on to allege Mr Haughey's supposed involvement was used to persuade Livingston backer and lottery millionaire, John McGuinness, to sign over life policies worth £1.75m to RBS for security and put his other assets at risk.The charges go on to allege Mr Haughey's supposed involvement was used to persuade Livingston backer and lottery millionaire, John McGuinness, to sign over life policies worth £1.75m to RBS for security and put his other assets at risk.
The charge alleges Mr McGuiness lost everything as a result.The charge alleges Mr McGuiness lost everything as a result.
Mr Keane is also accused of stealing a share certificate from the refrigeration firm and using it as security and getting Mr Haughey and Mr McGuinness to sign indemnity agreements.Mr Keane is also accused of stealing a share certificate from the refrigeration firm and using it as security and getting Mr Haughey and Mr McGuinness to sign indemnity agreements.
The trial heard from Dr Tony Kinder, a senior lecturer at Edinburgh University, who had taken up a non-paid seat on the board of Livingston FC while a councillor in West Lothian.
He said Mr Haughey spoke of himself as a part owner, even though advocate depute Alastair Brown, prosecuting, pointed out that records lodged with Companies House showed he had never owned any shares.
Football investment
Dr Kinder said: "Very responsible people heard Willie indicate that he, personally, was injecting money into the football club, the purpose of which was to build two stands."
He said it did not matter to him where the money was coming from "as long as it was legal, of course".
When asked about Mr McGuinness' involvement, he said: "I would say John had a great interest in football and a great trust in Dominic and Willie and therefore really took the lead from them and their partnership together in terms of business decision taking.
"John wasn't a businessman. He had some money he wanted to invest in football and sometimes you had to struggle to get his attention on the business side of the football club."
He said My Haughey's involvement with Livingston tailed off after disagreements with Mr Keane.
Dr Kinder also agreed with solicitor advocate Maurice Smyth, defending Mr Keane, that he "could not have worked harder" for the football club.
The trial continues.