Recently, it was reported that over 20 legal claims regarding historical abuse at Celtic Boys Club have been settled for a significant amount in damages. A class action was launched by about 30 former players against Celtic Plc, with Thompsons Solicitors stating that 70% of the cases have already been resolved, with more settlements expected soon. Last year, Celtic had expressed its intention to resolve the cases, and it seems that progress has been made in that regard.
In the past few years, several coaches and officials from the boys club have been convicted of sexual offenses against young players over multiple decades. In 2023, a judge approved a “class action” group litigation similar to those in the US to move forward against Celtic for the alleged abuses at Celtic Boys Club. The boys club was originally set up to feed players to the senior Celtic team in 1966, and both clubs had strong connections, including shared players, officials, and facilities. Although Celtic has always maintained that they are not accountable because the boys club was a separate entity, lawyers representing the former players have argued that there is a close link between the two clubs.
The legal proceedings mainly focus on historical allegations of sexual assault by convicted offenders Jim Torbett and Frank Cairney, who were involved with Celtic Boys Club. Laura Connor, representing Thompsons Solicitors, emphasized the importance of the clients’ voices being heard throughout the complex litigation process. She noted that the defendants prolonged the case, but the clients remained dignified and resilient. Finally, with the successful settlements, the former players can now see that Celtic Boys Club and Celtic Football Club were indeed closely connected
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