Celtic settles 85 per cent of abuse claims made by victims of Boys Club paedos

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

Judge Lord Arthurson heard today the Hoops have made compo payments in 24 out of 28 claims
PAY OUT Celtic settles 85 per cent of abuse claims made by victims of Boys Club paedos
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE bulk of claims made against Celtic FC by former Celtic Boys Club players who were abused by pervert coaches have been settled, a court has heard.
Judge Lord Arthurson heard today the Hoops have made compo payments in 24 out of 28 claims - 85 percent - brought against the club in group proceedings.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Serial sex offender and footie coach Jim Torbett, founder of Celtic Boys Club.
Credit: Spindrift
5
Sicko Frank Cairney abused lads when he was an official at Celtic Boys Club
Credit: Tom Farmer
5
Judge Lord Arthurson heard 85 percent of cases have been resolved.
Credit: BBC News
5
Laura Connor of Thompsons Solicitors who are representing the victim.
The Court of Session also heard how lawyers hope the remaining claims can be settled sometime in the near future.
Celtic's lawyer Ewen Campbell told the court his client wanted to bring the remaining cases to an end.
He said it wouldn't be in his clients' 'interests' to allow the matters to continue or be heard in new actions.
He said: 'I am very pleased to hear that everybody is agreed that the proceedings have been effective.
'With regard to the four that are left, my inclination is to fix a final hearing in this case for the week beginning September 1.
'That will be the final hearing in the case - that will be a case management hearing.
'At that stage, you will have had the opportunity to wrap up the matters that require to be wrapped up, discussions can continue actively and thereafter the court would listen very favourably to the motion that is made.'
It comes almost three years after Lord Arthurson gave permission in 2022 for a number of former starlets to sue the Glasgow giants.
He had heard the action should proceed because the two entities were 'intimately connected' to each other - a claim denied at the time by Celtic FC's legal team who argued the two organisations were separate from each other.
The sex abuse survivors have brought 'group proceedings' against Celtic FC PLC - similar to US-class action style litigations.
Celtic settles Boys Club compensation claims with victims who were abused by paedophile coaches
The abuse was carried out by convicted paedophiles James Torbett and Frank Cairney at the youth club, which was not officially linked to Celtic FC.
During proceedings, Ian Mackay KC told Lord Arthurson lawyers for the men have uncovered evidence showing apparent close links between Celtic Boys Club and Celtic FC.
He said the evidence showed that the two entities were 'intimately connected' and that his clients should be allowed to sue Celtic.
Mr Mackay said: 'Celtic Boys Club was intimately connected to Celtic Football Club - it was branded as being closely connected to Celtic Football Club.
'Players played in Celtic strips and wore blazers which were virtually identical to those worn by Celtic FC players.
'Football kit, holdalls and training gear were provided by Celtic Football Club.
'The pursuers' understanding was that they were playing for the boys club of Celtic Football Club.
'Celtic Boys Club trained at Barrowfield, the training ground of Celtic Football Club and Celtic Park as well as elsewhere.
'Celtic Football Club exercised control over who played for Celtic Boys Club because scouts recruited players who they considered were good enough to play for Celtic Football Club and diverted them to Celtic Football Club.
5
Celtic FC has been at the heart of the Celtic Boys Club scandal for decades.
Credit: PA:Press Association
'The Boys Club was a nursery for senior team players. Celtic Boys Club was in effect what could be now known as the academy of Celtic Football Club.
'Articles about Celtic Boys Club appeared regularly in the Celtic View, the club's newspaper - and the club was referred to as being part of the Celtic family.
'Celtic is vicariously liable for assaults.'
We told how earlier this year, Thompsons Solicitors - who acted for the players - said a seven figure pay out had been agreed.
Laura Connor, a partner at Thompsons Solicitors, said at the time: 'Our clients trusted us to fight for them on these difficult cases and ensure their voices were heard.
'This litigation has been made far more complex and lengthy by the defender, while our clients have acted with resolute dignity throughout.
'At long last, they have achieved success and can take this compensation as confirmation that Celtic Boys Club was indeed inextricably linked to Celtic Football Club.'
Celtic said it was "very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys Club" and that it took the abuse "extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations".
Mr Campbell today said all the cases that could be settled have been brought to an end.
He added: 'These are four cases which each have individual issues associated with them which prevent them from progressing.
'These are four individual cases which are going to turn on individual facts - which if they have been brought to court initially - I think would never have justified in themselves grouo proceedings - it would have been more efficient to proceed with them individually
'If the solicitors instructing them can obtain instructions from these four individuals then the defenders are open to discussing the cases.
"It's not going to be the case where group proceedings come to an end and we shut the door and force anybody to raise new proceedings - that's not in anybody's interests, that's not in the defender's interests.'
Hoops chiefs said in April they were 'very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys Club'.
The case will next call in September.