Charity says chief executive's past is a matter of public record
It has been revealed a Scots charity boss is a convicted murderer who used to be a member of one of Glasgow’s most notorious gangs.
Paul Carberry, chief executive at Action for Children, was jailed for five and a half years in 1979 for stabbing a 21-year-old to death on a train to see Scotland play England at Wembley.
He now earns £154,000 a year but says not a day goes by in which he doesn’t think about the man he killed.
Carberry was only 16 and a member of the Govan Team when he carried out the attack on John Murray. Since then has had a role on the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce in Scotland - with a brief to curb youth gangs.
After a national paper confronted Carberry about his past, he said: "That's something I've regretted every day of my life. A family did not have their loved one because of me.
“That’s absolutely been a factor in my life. And, actually, it’s been a factor in what I’ve then done as a result.
“I haven’t tried to make contact because I didn’t want to add to anybody’s suffering and did not want to open up old wounds for anybody. I’ve had many opportunities to go on record, many opportunities, and I’ve chosen not to.
"And the first thing for me was some mother did not have her son because of me and some child did not have a father.
“The last thing I wanted was to go on the record talking about my progress or whatever. The trustees know and I always acknowledged my background on the basis of need to know.”
Carberry, who had been drinking beer and vodka, on the day of the murder claimed he had confiscated another man's knife and remembered nothing of the attack after being headbutted by Murray.
He served time at a youth jail and in adult prison before being freed in 1985. He got a job as a social worker and rose high in the profession.
Carberry has been with Action for Children since 1994, when he joined as a project leader in Scotland.
He became chief executive last year of the organisation which has an income of £143m.
A spokesperson for AfC said: "The Trustees who appointed Paul Carberry as CEO did so in the full knowledge of his past, which is a matter of public record. He joined AfC as a project manager in 1994 - the organisation had full knowledge of his past.
"Paul has helped support thousands of children and young people including those who have been involved in crime, helping many find jobs, avoid criminal exploitation and reach their full potential.
Chair Sarika Patel says he told her his time inside was a turning point and, although he couldn't change what he did, he'd dedicated his life and rehabilitation to help vulnerable young people.
“The Trustees of Action for Children who appointed Paul Carberry as CEO did so in the full knowledge of his past, which is a matter of public record and has previously been reported in the press," she said.
“Paul deeply regrets and is sorry for what he did when he was 16 years old. He has told us not a day goes by when he doesn’t think about the devasting and long lasting impact his actions have had on the victims and their families.
“He was tried when he was 17 years old, convicted and served five and a half years, firstly at a young offenders institution and then in prison. He says his time inside was a turning point and although he can’t change what he did, he was determined to dedicate his life and his rehabilitation to help vulnerable young people.
“He joined Action for Children as a project manager almost 30 years ago in 1994, never hiding his past. Throughout his career, Paul has helped support thousands of children and young people including those who have been involved in crime, helping many find jobs, avoid criminal exploitation and reach their full potential.
“Paul, who was previously National Director for Scotland, is currently a member of the Scottish Government’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce. He is also a registered social work manager with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
"Until he took on the CEO position, he held a number of roles across crime and youth justice bodies and has been a leading voice in this area. We understand all agencies in Scotland were aware of Paul’s past.”
Why are you reporting this? It is not relevant to the charity he works for and it can only bring sorrow to his victim's family if they see it. If anything we should be celebrating that our systems turned this man from a thug of a gang member to a highly respected professional who supports children. I don't consider this news and am disappointed to see it in your paper.