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

[ian1964 10,858]

[ian1964 10,858]

[ian1964 10,858]

[Uilleam 6,324]

It's not clear whether the total settlement to date is 'seven figures', or whether each wronged individual will receive 'seven figures'. 

I don't think that we deal in 'punitive damages' in Scotland, so I suspect that the child abusers will get off relatively lightly. 

 

Thomsons, Solicitors,

"..confirmed that about 70 per cent of cases had been settled for a seven-figure sum, with further settlements expected in the coming weeks."

 

 

Celtic to pay millions in Boys Club child abuse settlement

Justice has finally been achieved, say lawyers representing the victims who were players at the feeder club in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties

updated

Marc Horne

Tuesday April

2025, 12.04pm, The Times

 

Celtic FC previously insisted that the youth club was a separate entity but that defence has now been abandoned

JANE BARLOW/PA

 

A deal that will result in Celtic paying millions of pounds to survivors of systematic child abuse at its feeder club has been reached, prompting claims that “justice has finally been achieved”.

About 30 former players at Celtic Boys Club joined a class-action lawsuit that was due to be heard in court.

Thompsons Solicitors Scotland, which is representing the victims, paused the legal action in 2023 after the club indicated that it was willing to negotiate a settlement.

The law firm said negotiations to strike a deal were now complete in the majority of cases and that justice had finally been done.

It confirmed that about 70 per cent of cases had been settled for a seven-figure sum, with further settlements expected in the coming weeks.

 

About 30 survivors who suffered sexual abuse while playing for Celtic Boys Club in the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties launched a US-style “class action” lawsuit under new Scottish group proceedings legislation.

The firm presented evidence to Celtic to argue how much it should pay in each case. It is understood there has been no request for non-disclosure agreements.

Laura Connor, of Thompsons Solicitors, said: “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.”

 

Asked whether Celtic will be making an apology to victims, Thompsons said “Celtic Plc making these substantial payments is acknowledgement of the fact that the entities of Celtic Boys Club and Celtic Football Club are in fact not separate and the wrongs committed are the responsibility of Celtic”.

Celtic previously insisted that the youth club was a separate entity with which it had “historic connections”. That defence has now been abandoned.

It came after The Times published an investigation that contradicted and undermined Celtic’s insistence that it had no formal links to the feeder club.

Celtic previously expressed “regret and sorrow” over abuse that took place at the boys’ club.

It did not accept any liability despite a number of figures connected with the feeder club, including the founder Jim Torbett and the former manager Frank Cairney, being convicted of multiple sexual offences against children.

 

Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservative leader, claimed paedophiles had used the club to abuse boys on an “industrial scale”.

“There has long been abundant evidence of an organised network of predators using Celtic FC’s boys’ club to sexually abuse children, yet victims were treated with pure contempt and forced to fight for justice over many long and painful years,” he said.

“It is tragic that some victims did not live to see this day.

“Victims of industrial-scale abuse in Scottish football were failed by the club and Scotland’s justice system, but continue to be failed by the SNP government, which refuses to do the right thing and extend the remit of the child abuse inquiry.”

 

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of the welfare charity Children First has insisted it was crucial for Celtic to publicly express contrition.

“An apology or acknowledgement of the harm caused is the most important action that Celtic Football Club can take to help survivors recover from their horrific experiences of childhood sexual abuse,” she said.

“We know from our experience of helping survivors recover from abuse that children are often made to feel they were responsible for the abuse they suffered.

“To fully recover from their horrific ordeal, survivors need a clear and heartfelt apology which acknowledges that what happened to them at Celtic Boys Club was wrong and that they are not to blame for it.”

 

Celtic has been contacted for comment.

 

Comments for this article have been turned off

[Scott7 6,602]

I wonder when Sturgeon, Yousaf, Swinney, McLaren and Aitken will be issuing statements.

[ian1964 10,858]

Strange that the SFA/SPFL release two stories on the same day BEAST FC are all the headlines for decades of a paedophile ring operating inside that vile club!

[Bluedell 6,036]

4 hours ago, stewarty said:

Could be read either way - I read it the other way this morning. 

My info isn't coming from the articles. 

[stewarty 2,111]

2 hours ago, Bluedell said:

My info isn't coming from the articles. 

Interesting.  It does seem a strange wording to use, deliberately ambiguous.   And to announce on 1st April was surely a cynical ploy to underplay this or dampen it to chipwrappers and everyone moves on.  
 

Russell Findlay was spot on in his comments.