Celtic settles 85% of abuse claims in boys club scandal

Justice hope for paedos’ remaining victims

- By James Mulholland

CELTIC has settled 85% of the claims in a lawsuit brought against it by sexual abuse victims, a court has heard.

The sex abuse survivors have brought “group proceedings” against Celtic FC plc a procedure similar to US class-action style litigations.

The abuse was carried out by convicted paedophiles James Torbett and Frank Cairney at the youth club, which was not officially linked to Celtic FC. Judge Lord Arthurson was told Celtic has paid compensation in 24 out of 28 claims brought against it in group proceedings.

The Court of Session also heard how lawyers in the case hope the remaining claims can be settled sometime in the near future.

Celtic’s lawyer Ewen Campbell said they wanted to bring the remaining cases to an end. It would not be in his clients’ “interests” to allow the matters to continue or be heard in new actions.

This prompted Lord Arthurson to fix a final hearing for September.

He said: “I am very pleased to hear that everybody is agreed that the proceedings have been effective. With

‘Boys side and Celtic closely connected’

regard to the four left, my inclination is to fix a final hearing in this case for the week beginning September 1.”