Celtic Boys Club manager 'stuffed banknotes in boy's mouth'

[MacK1950 2,226]

Plenty of time to get suffering with unknown number of illnesses.

[ian1964 10,367]

 

[ian1964 10,367]

 

[ian1964 10,367]

 

[ian1964 10,367]

 

[ian1964 10,367]

 

[MacK1950 2,226]

Here's to the power of the pen and then power to the sword.

[ian1964 10,367]

 

[Uilleam 5,368]

Ruling on Barry Bennell abuse at Manchester City FC ‘won’t affect Celtic Boys Club claims’

Marc Horne

Wednesday January 12 2022, 12.00am, The Times

 

Barry Bennell, a former youth football coach, is serving a 34-year sentence for abusing boys

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ruling-on-barry-bennell-abuse-at-manchester-city-fc-wont-affect-celtic-boys-club-claims-782wnq0rl

 

The dismissal of a sexual abuse claim against Manchester City will have no impact on a multimillion-pound lawsuit being pursued against Celtic FC, a senior lawyer has said.

On Monday eight men who were abused by the paedophile coach Barry Bennell lost their battle at the High Court in London for “substantial damages” from the English Premier League champions.

Mr Justice Johnson ruled that the connection between the abuse and Bennell’s relationship with Manchester City was “insufficient to give rise to vicarious liability”.

However, Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, which is representing about 35 alleged victims of abuse at Celtic Boys Club (CBC), the feeder club of Celtic FC, says that the two cases are not directly comparable.

“Factually and legally, the circumstances of the Manchester City case are very different to those in the cases we are pursuing against Celtic FC on behalf of those abused at CBC,” Patrick McGuire, a partner with the firm, said.

“The clients that we represent can rest assured that we will continue to pursue our cases as fully and aggressively as we can. We hope for, and fully expect, a successful conclusion on their behalf.”

 

The High Court was told that Bennell, who is serving a 34-year sentence after being convicted of abusing boys on five separate occasions, was a scout for City in the mid-1970s but not between 1979 and 1985 when the attacks occurred.

McGuire expressed sympathy for the English survivors and hoped that their appeal would succeed, but said the court had been told that the feeder club Bennell was associated with had only a “loose connection” with City.

“The evidence that Bennell gave was that any Manchester City strips or tracksuits that happened to be used, during that period, were obtained by him through deceit,” he said.

“In sharp contrast, all equipment, strips and tracksuits used by CBC, featuring the Celtic logo, were not obtained by deceit but with the active help, support and financing of Celtic FC. The boys’ club was constantly referred to in matchday programmes, Celtic’s official magazine and in Celtic FC board minutes. This was not one tangential feeder team but a club which was held out, to parents, fans and the world at large, as being part of the Celtic family.”

 

Dozens of alleged victims of molestation at CBC are poised to take part in a class action lawsuit under legal powers that have only recently come into use.

In November, at a hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Lord Ericht agreed to allow the case to move to the next stage, which ensures that lawyers for Celtic FC will need to respond to the claims.

Papers were formally served on Celtic late last year and a further preliminary hearing is expected to take place within months.

Thompsons will set out evidence which it claims shows that the boys’ club and Celtic were linked financially and therefore legally.

 

Six men associated with CBC, Celtic FC and Celtic East Youth Club, an Edinburgh-based feeder club, have been convicted of sexual offences against boys.

 

Celtic FC has consistently argued the boys’ club was a “separate entity”.

Last year a spokesman said: “The club is continuing to deal with these sensitive matters in conjunction with its advisers.

“The club again expresses its sincere sympathy, regret and sorrow to those affected, and reiterates it will stand by its responsibilities, respecting the due process of law.”

 

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[compo 6,043]

I suppose at the end of the day the big question could be are employers responsible for the behaviour of their employees.