C&P from elsewhere…
From today’s DR
Victims in the Celtic Boys Club scandal are being assessed for psychological damage caused by their abusers.
It comes as Celtic FC are believed to be preparing to pay compensation following claims made against the club by more than 20 people.
Gordon Woods, who was repeatedly assaulted by convicted beast Jim Torbett, said a “class-action” lawsuit, brought against the club, has reached a crucial stage.
The 69-year-old, who faced Torbett in court last year and saw him brought to justice after five decades, said he answered hundreds of questions, as part of the process, which would incorporate evidence of a devastating suicide attempt.
He said the move shows Celtic chiefs remain intent on having the cases dealt with behind closed doors.
Gordon said: “I’d an appointment with a psychologist, appointed by the lawyers in the case and Celtic to speak to each individual victim and assess the damage that has been caused over a period of time.
“In my particular case that was a whole lifetime because this happened to me 50 years ago.
“An assessment is to be made for the damage that has been done and any offer of compensation will be determined from the psychologist’s view of how the damage has affected them.
“It’s now been more than two months since Celtic made the offer to negotiate to settle out of court.
“This shows things are moving forward because if there are no offers made within the appropriate timescale then the class action takes effect and we go to court.”
Several former coaches and officials at Celtic Boys Club – a feeder team to the senior Celtic side – have been convicted of sexual offences against teenage players spanning decades.
Celtic previously said it took the allegations “extremely seriously” but was not responsible because the Boys Club was an “entirely separate” organisation.
Lawyers acting for the former players argue the Boys Club and Celtic were “intimately connected” and the senior club was “vicariously liable” for the abuse.
Last year a judge gave the go-ahead for a US-style class action – or group litigation – to proceed against Celtic and, in September, lawyers acting for more than 20 men were told the club intended to enter settlement negotiations.
The litigation, run by Thompsons Solicitors, relates to historical claims of sex attacks by convicted paedophile Jim Torbett, founder of the Boys Club, and ex-coach Frank Cairney.
Torbett, 76, was jailed for three years last April for preying on Gordon, his third child abuse conviction. He was already serving six years for sex offences on boys.
Gordon, who has waived his right to anonymity, was left tormented after assaults which took place in Torbett’s car, a flat and a shop in Glasgow. He said the psychological assessments would be traumatic for many.
He said: “Over the course of a week I have had numerous emails from this particular psychologist with questionnaires I had to complete before the meeting. They contained maybe 500-600 questions which I had to complete on my history, going back to school days.
“What transpired was that all my medical records backed up the statements I had made in the past.
“But I was hospitalised in 1999 for a period of three weeks after a suicide attempt. Those records are missing so they will now be asked to forward those to my lawyers and that will not be looked into. Because my case has been determined in a court of law there was no reason to question me on the abuse and that was eliminated from the conversation, but I don’t think that will be the case for all of the victims who have not yet had the satisfaction of a court appearance.
“Each time you have to relay your story to complete strangers it is very difficult.”
Gordon has spoken of his wish for the class action to proceed through court, saying Celtic should be publicly held to account for decades of abuse at the Boys Club.
He said: “It’s an horrific situation we have found ourselves in.
“If Celtic had admitted liability decades ago all the pain these victims have been through could have been avoided.”
Celtic were approached for comment.
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It looks like the long weary road the victims have been on is nearing an end. I have little sympathy for that club in the whole sorry episode but I suppose those now in power had to do what they see as best for the club. I don’t want to see the club punished other than the compensation payout they’ll need to make for the sins of the old brigade.
Hopefully those who chose to cover this up and who turned a blind eye for decades are held to account and are publicly named and shamed. Jack McGinn being first in line!!
