Dominic Keane sheds tears of joy after not guilty verdict

Sep 3 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

FORMER Livingston chairman Dominic Keane was cleared of a £2.3 million loan scam which cost a lottery winner the last of his £10 million windfall.

Keane wiped away tears and left the dock to join his brother, Billy, when a jury announced their decision after only 40 minutes – a dramatically short time to reach a decision in a fraud trial.

And as he walked free from the High Court in Edinburgh, Keane, 54, said: “This has been a nightmare for the last four years and now it is all over.

“Now I just want to get home and be with my family.”

A jury rejected the claim that one-time bank manager Keane had used forged signatures to con his former employers, the Royal Bank of Scotland, into continuing to bankroll Livingston Football Club.

During eight days of evidence the 12 men and three women heard how financial consultant Keane dabbled in a pub business before his career progressed from Parkhead board-room to chairmanship of Livingston Football Club during their “golden years.”

The charge – which Keane had denied – described how the Royal Bank of Scotland agreed to convert an overdraft into a loan in April 2001.

They thought they were providing the money to a syndicate consisting of Keane, lottery winner John McGuinness and multi-millionaire Glasgow businessman William Haughey.

It was alleged that the real losers were Mr McGuinness, 45, who had put up life assurance bonds worth £1.75 million as security, and Mr Haughey, 53, who handed over more than a million pounds in an out-of-court settlement when the Royal Bank came after their money.

Keane told the court that he had been made bankrupt and had lost his home.

As he dashed from court, Keane said he had no comment to make about his one-time friend Mr Haughey.

But he managed a smile when asked if he intended to become involved in football management again. “No, I am going to enjoy the rest of my life,” he quipped.

Mr Keane also thanked his legal team and others who had supported him behind the scenes, adding: “I am just grateful that witnesses stood up and were counted at the right time.”