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Nevin urges Celtic to act over abuse scandal at feeder club
Celtic FC insists that its feeder club was an “entirely separate” organisation
GETTY IMAGES
Marc Horne
Friday June 26 2020, 12.01am BST, The Times
Celtic should accept responsibility if the club was aware of the widespread abuse that took place at its feeder club and compensate survivors, one of its most distinguished former players said.
Pat Nevin, the former Chelsea and Scotland player, spoke out after legal action was formally launched against the Parkhead club. Thompsons Solicitors, which represents 25 individuals who claim they were molested at Celtic Boys’ Club over three decades, claims that it represents the largest abuse scandal in British football.
It lodged papers on behalf of one survivor who is seeking damages from Celtic FC. The test case will be heard at the Court of Session within months.
Nevin, 56, the broadcaster who started his career with Celtic Boys Club in the 1970s butwas not abused, called on the Scottish champions to take responsibility. “If [Celtic FC] did know about the abuse they should pay up,” he told BBC Scotland.
“They should apologise profusely and pay up now, if they knew it was going on at the boys’ club. If they knew about it for a number of years and allowed it to carry on they should apologise to everyone profusely and pay up to the people who were hurt by it. “
Four senior figures at the boys’ club have been convicted of molesting dozens of young players.
In February Celtic FC said it was very sorry that the abuse took place but the club continues to insist that its feeder club was an “entirely separate” organisation, with which it had “historic contacts”.
Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons, who is representing the survivors, claimed that both clubs shared a name, crest, personnel, premises and players. “One of the world’s largest and celebrated sporting institutions, Celtic FC, will now have to reckon in civil court to answer for the decades of the most serious sexual abuse of children committed by their staff and close affiliates,” he said.
Celtic FC insists that its feeder club was an “entirely separate” organisation
GETTY IMAGES
Marc Horne
Friday June 26 2020, 12.01am BST, The Times
Celtic should accept responsibility if the club was aware of the widespread abuse that took place at its feeder club and compensate survivors, one of its most distinguished former players said.
Pat Nevin, the former Chelsea and Scotland player, spoke out after legal action was formally launched against the Parkhead club. Thompsons Solicitors, which represents 25 individuals who claim they were molested at Celtic Boys’ Club over three decades, claims that it represents the largest abuse scandal in British football.
It lodged papers on behalf of one survivor who is seeking damages from Celtic FC. The test case will be heard at the Court of Session within months.
Nevin, 56, the broadcaster who started his career with Celtic Boys Club in the 1970s butwas not abused, called on the Scottish champions to take responsibility. “If [Celtic FC] did know about the abuse they should pay up,” he told BBC Scotland.
“They should apologise profusely and pay up now, if they knew it was going on at the boys’ club. If they knew about it for a number of years and allowed it to carry on they should apologise to everyone profusely and pay up to the people who were hurt by it. “
Four senior figures at the boys’ club have been convicted of molesting dozens of young players.
In February Celtic FC said it was very sorry that the abuse took place but the club continues to insist that its feeder club was an “entirely separate” organisation, with which it had “historic contacts”.
Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons, who is representing the survivors, claimed that both clubs shared a name, crest, personnel, premises and players. “One of the world’s largest and celebrated sporting institutions, Celtic FC, will now have to reckon in civil court to answer for the decades of the most serious sexual abuse of children committed by their staff and close affiliates,” he said.