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

[ian1964 10,409]

Celtic Boys' club beast abused young player in toy shop while other man watched

Gordon Woods has bravely told how Jim Torbett attempted to rape him and then carried out a sex act.

By

Keith McLeod

• 04:30, 28 OCT 2019
• Updated07:42, 28 OCT 2019

Celtic Boys’ Club beast Jim Torbett sexually abused a young player in a toy shop in Glasgow – while another man watched.

Gordon Woods was just 13 years old when evil Torbett preyed on him.

And Gordon, now in his 60s, has revealed to the Daily Record that other coaches at the boys’ club told him after his first trial that he was not a good enough player – but Torbett intervened and told him to continue to come to training.

Gordon has now taken the brave step of revealing to his close family the abuse he suffered decades ago.

He said: “I never played a competitive game for Celtic Boys’ Club. I wasn’t good enough. I now know Torbett kept me going to training for the simple reason I’d be a sitting duck for his predatory behaviour.

“I’m speaking out now after all these years because I’m disgusted at Celtic FC’s claim that they were separate from the boys’ club. That was not my experience. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Gordon, who has the right to anonymity, has allowed us to use his name because he wants Torbett to know who he is.

He said: “I want him to remember me and I want him to think about what he did to me. I also want him to know that I will not be silenced any more.”

He says he was taken to the toy shop on Maryhill Road by Torbett on two occasions. And he claims that another man who was involved with Torbett – and Celtic Boys’ Club – was present on one of the occasions in the 1960s.

Gordon said: “One of the times in the toy shop – when it was closed for lunch – Torbett took me into the storeroom or back room of the shop.

“He attempted to rape me and then carried out a sex act. I remember thinking that the door was open and the other man was in the shop.

“I thought that was why the door was left open, so the other man could see in. I remember thinking, ‘He’s watching this’, because there was no reason to leave the door open. Afterwards, Torbett carried on as if nothing happened.”

Gordon says the shop – and Torbett – were producing miniature European Cups and giving them to boys’ club members or selling them.

He says he was also abused on two occasions by Torbett at a flat in Pinkston Drive in Glasgow.

Gordon says he believed he was with Celtic FC because the boys’ club was viewed as one and the same.

He recalled a trip to Dumfries for a match against a local team in 1968.

He said: “I slept in and I knew I had missed the bus. I phoned Celtic Park and spoke to one of the
secretaries.

“I told them that I had missed the coach. Sometime later, the phone rang in the house and it was the secretary I had spoken to.

“She asked if I could be at St Enoch Square underground station by 12 o’clock. A big burgundy car arrived and inside were Jock Stein and Sir Bob Kelly. Stein was driving.

“I went all the way to Dumfries with them. There was a big box next to me in the back. There was a brass latch and inside was two doors and it was the European Cup, or a replica of the European Cup. They were taking it to show the boys of the team we were playing and the people down there. It was an honour to be in the same car as both these men.

“I listen now to Celtic FC saying that Celtic Boys’ Club was a totally separate organisation. Yet there was me having missed the bus, phoning Celtic Park, speaking to a Celtic FC secretary and then being picked up by the Celtic FC manager and chairman for a boys’ club match in Dumfries.

“It enrages me the stance that Celtic are taking now. Whatever they are saying now, was definitely not the case at the time.”

Gordon remembers attending Celtic Park for a match in September 1968 when Torbett summoned him to his car. Gordon says he would normally sit in the passenger seat, but on this occasion another boy was in that seat.

Gordon said he got in the back and Torbett said he thought their “friendship” should end.

He says he recognised the boy – who gave evidence against Torbett in the late 90s.

Gordon added: “This has affected me more in later years.

“I have now been able to explain this to my family, to let them know that this happened to me when I was very young and didn’t really know what was happening to me. I’m glad I’ve found the courage to speak. I hope that this will help others.”

Boys’ Club founder Torbett was jailed in November for six years, former general manager Frank Cairney, 84, was jailed in January for four years, fellow boys’ club coach and Celtic FC man Jim McCafferty, 73, was jailed for six years and nine months, while former chairman Gerald King, 66, was convicted of preying on children at a Glasgow school but avoided jail.

In May, the Record revealed how Celtic FC cleared Torbett and Cairney of wrongdoing in 1986 – despite the club’s claim of “separate entities” and that allegations first came to light in the early 1990s.

Gordon is a client of Thompsons Solicitors, which is seeking damages from Celtic FC for a string of clients.

Patrick McGuire from the firm said: “Mr Woods’ harrowing account of abuse at the Celtic Boys’ Club sheds new light on the scale of the abuse, as well as the close connections between the Boys’ Club and Celtic.

“Particularly disturbing is his account of what happened to him at a toy shop frequented by his abuser.

“In telling his story publicly, Mr Woods has shown great courage which should be admired. He, along with all the other survivors from Celtic and Celtic Boys’ Club, want the club to take responsibility for the decades of abuse which happened on their watch and to show respect to those survivors by effecting quick and appropriate settlement of all legal actions.”

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-boys-club-beast-abused-20738746

[ian1964 10,409]

Scottish child abuse victims ‘can’t sue beasts if they accept government’s cash for silence compensation payouts’

• Chris Musson, Scottish Political Editor

• 2 Nov 2019, 21:30

CHILD abuse victims will be stripped of their rights if they accept Scottish Government “cash for silence” compensation payouts, it was warned tonight.

A proposal in the redress scheme being drawn up by SNP ministers would mean they can’t sue their tormentors.

But legal experts said the planned “waiver” clause would be “a slap in the face to every survivor, support group, charity and campaigner” — and benefit the perpetrators of historical child sex abuse.

Specialist abuse lawyer Kim Leslie said: “It’s just offering cash in exchange for silence. This waiver clause needs amended immediately.

“Any changes should improve justice and empower choice. “Nothing should be taken from a survivor unless it is replaced with something better. That won’t happen with these redress plans.”

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on how the scheme — which was demanded by campaigners for years — would work in practice.

A new document published by Deputy First Minister John Swinney suggests that if a payment is made, a “waiver” would have to be signed by the victim to “give up their right to raise an action in court”.

It adds: “Many redress schemes in other countries have required applicants to choose between accepting a redress payment and pursuing remedies in the civil courts.

“We are proposing to take the same approach. In other words, an applicant should find out how much they would receive by way of a redress payment and take legal advice before deciding whether to accept it — or reject it and pursue an award in the civil courts instead.

“This will commonly require the signing of a waiver at the point of accepting a redress payment, which means the applicant would give up their right to raise a court action in respect of their experience in care.”

But Ms Leslie, a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, warned: “My overwhelming concern is the redress payment scheme will force an opt-out of any civil damages claim when a far fairer process would be that it would be in addition to, or offset against, any future damages.

“The only parties who would benefit from these proposals are individuals and organisations who could dodge the shame and costs of legal actions.”

The consultation is due to close on November 25 and draft legislation will be tabled next year, with the law set to be passed in early 2021.

We told last week how more than 250 child abuse victims had already claimed £10,000 in compensation in just six months under an advance Government scheme for people who are terminally ill or over 70, to provide “recognition of the harm done”

The wider redress scheme is being set up in parallel with the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which is examining historical allegations of the abuse of children in care.

The probe began in 2016 and is currently focussing on abuse perpetrated by male religious orders.

Tonight a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have made no judgments or conclusions as to how the redress scheme should be established or operate.

“We would encourage as many people as possible to respond to the consultation. Their views will help inform this hugely important work.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/4909780/scottish-child-abuse-victims-government-compensation-waiver-silence/

[Bill 13,717]

1 hour ago, ian1964 said:

Scottish child abuse victims ‘can’t sue beasts if they accept government’s cash for silence compensation payouts’

• Chris Musson, Scottish Political Editor

• 2 Nov 2019, 21:30

CHILD abuse victims will be stripped of their rights if they accept Scottish Government “cash for silence” compensation payouts, it was warned tonight.

A proposal in the redress scheme being drawn up by SNP ministers would mean they can’t sue their tormentors.

But legal experts said the planned “waiver” clause would be “a slap in the face to every survivor, support group, charity and campaigner” — and benefit the perpetrators of historical child sex abuse.

Specialist abuse lawyer Kim Leslie said: “It’s just offering cash in exchange for silence. This waiver clause needs amended immediately.

“Any changes should improve justice and empower choice. “Nothing should be taken from a survivor unless it is replaced with something better. That won’t happen with these redress plans.”

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on how the scheme — which was demanded by campaigners for years — would work in practice.

A new document published by Deputy First Minister John Swinney suggests that if a payment is made, a “waiver” would have to be signed by the victim to “give up their right to raise an action in court”.

It adds: “Many redress schemes in other countries have required applicants to choose between accepting a redress payment and pursuing remedies in the civil courts.

“We are proposing to take the same approach. In other words, an applicant should find out how much they would receive by way of a redress payment and take legal advice before deciding whether to accept it — or reject it and pursue an award in the civil courts instead.

“This will commonly require the signing of a waiver at the point of accepting a redress payment, which means the applicant would give up their right to raise a court action in respect of their experience in care.”

But Ms Leslie, a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, warned: “My overwhelming concern is the redress payment scheme will force an opt-out of any civil damages claim when a far fairer process would be that it would be in addition to, or offset against, any future damages.

“The only parties who would benefit from these proposals are individuals and organisations who could dodge the shame and costs of legal actions.”

The consultation is due to close on November 25 and draft legislation will be tabled next year, with the law set to be passed in early 2021.

We told last week how more than 250 child abuse victims had already claimed £10,000 in compensation in just six months under an advance Government scheme for people who are terminally ill or over 70, to provide “recognition of the harm done”

The wider redress scheme is being set up in parallel with the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which is examining historical allegations of the abuse of children in care.

The probe began in 2016 and is currently focussing on abuse perpetrated by male religious orders.

Tonight a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have made no judgments or conclusions as to how the redress scheme should be established or operate.

“We would encourage as many people as possible to respond to the consultation. Their views will help inform this hugely important work.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/4909780/scottish-child-abuse-victims-government-compensation-waiver-silence/

The SNP cavalry rides in to buy off the child abusers of Celtic FC and the Catholic Church with taxpayers' money.

[compo 6,122]

Operation cover up has been going on for years now. 

[Bill 13,717]

18 minutes ago, compo said:

Operation cover up has been going on for years now. 

Yes it has. Labour's antisemitism pales beside the child abuse excusers of the SNP. Can you imagine where their named person scheme would have led?

[ian1964 10,409]

 

[ian1964 10,409]

 

[cooponthewing 1,139]

On 04/11/2019 at 09:34, Bill said:

The SNP cavalry rides in to buy off the child abusers of Celtic FC and the Catholic Church with taxpayers' money.

Could this not be classed as government aid for Shame FC? If the victims are accepting payments on behalf of them. Scotland is rotten to the core and this needs to be challenged.

[craig 5,195]

On 04/11/2019 at 05:34, Bill said:

The SNP cavalry rides in to buy off the child abusers of Celtic FC and the Catholic Church with taxpayers' money.

It’s absolutely fucking scandalous !!

[BEARGER 1,829]

Tonight a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have made no judgments or conclusions as to how the redress scheme should be established or operate.

“We would encourage as many people as possible to respond to the consultation. Their views will help inform this hugely important work.”