Boys club abuse survivors can launch action against Celtic FC

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A judge gave the go-ahead for sex abuse survivors to launch a multi-million pound claim against Celtic FC.

Lord Arthurson gave permission for 22 former Celtic Boys Club players to launch a class action against the club.

The men who were abused while at the youth team were represented by Ian Mackay.

Celtic FC said the organisation were separate from each other.

Lord Arthurson said the legal criteria for allowing the action to proceed had been met.

The Celtic Boys Club players came forward to seek compensation for being sexually assaults.

Group proceedings are similar to US class action style litigations.

Scots law was brought in to group proceedings in 2020. They allow groups of two or more people with the same, or similar, claims to raise a single action in the Court of Session.

Image source, PA Media

The court was told on Monday that lawyers for the men uncovered evidence showing close links between Celtic Boys Club and Celtic FC.

The Celtic Boys Club was branded as being closely connected to Celtic Football Club.

The players wore blazers which were almost identical to the ones worn by the Celtic FC players.

Celtic Football Club provided football kit, holdalls and training gear. The pursuers believed they were playing for the boys club of Celtic Football Club.

Celtic Football Club exercised control over who played for Celtic Boys Club because scouts recruited players who they thought were good enough to play for the club.

The Boys Club was a place for senior team players to stay. The academy of Celtic Football Club could be the Celtic Boys Club.

Celtic is responsible for assaults.

Lord Arthurson was told that the action should not go ahead.

He said that his clients didn't think they would get a fair trial because the documents that would be key to their case were missing.

Lord Arthurson said that the issues being faced by Celtic weren't that bad.

He passed a court order prohibiting the identification of the people who brought the legal action.

The common issue in the proceedings is the question of vicarious liability of the defenders for the actions of these individuals. The permission application was granted by the court.