Settlement agreed in Celtic Boys Club abuse cases

More than 20 legal claims of historical abuse at Celtic Boys Club have been settled for a seven-figure sum.

About 30 former players had launched a class action against Celtic for damages.

Thompsons Solicitors said that 70% of those cases had now been settled and that further settlements are expected in the coming weeks.

Celtic said it was "very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys Club" and that it took the abuse "extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations".

Several former coaches and officials at the boys club have been convicted in recent years of sexual offences against teenage players spanning decades.

In 2023, a judge gave the go-ahead for a class action group litigation - where people sue on behalf of a much larger group - to proceed against Celtic for alleged abuses at Celtic Boys Club.

Laura Connor, from Thompsons Solicitors, said the firm's clients had wanted their voices to be heard.

"This litigation has been made far more complex and lengthy by the defender, while our clients have acted with resolute dignity throughout," she said.

"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."

She said those involved in the case had been "very angry" at how long it had taken to reach a conclusion, but that there was now a sense of relief.

She added that Celtic had not made any formal admission of liability or any apology.

Thompsons said settlements had been agreed in 22 of the 28 cases involved in the group proceedings.

A further eight cases are still outstanding. These involved abuse by former coach Jim McCafferty, who died in prison in 2022.

Torbett has been jailed for abusing boys

In a statement, Celtic confirmed that a number of legal claims against the club had been resolved.

It said it hoped that settlements could soon be reached with the remaining group members.

"The club acknowledges the strength of the survivors of abuse who have come forward, and hope that this resolution may help to bring them some closure," it said.

"Celtic Football Club is appalled by any form of historic abuse and has great sympathy for those who suffered abuse and for their families.

"The club is very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys' Club. The club takes this abuse extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations."

Fresh allegations of abuse

For the victims of the predatory coaches at Celtic Boys Club, this has been a long time coming.

The litigation relates to historical claims of sexual assault by convicted paedophiles Jim Torbett - the founder of the boys club - and Frank Cairney, a former coach.

In 2017, the BBC Scotland Disclosure team first revealed a series of fresh allegations against Torbett, who had previously been jailed for abusing three players in the 1970s.

The team tracked him down to California and he was soon arrested and jailed.

Cairney, another former coach, was also jailed as more and more victims came forward demanding justice.

Cairney was jailed in 2019 after being found guilty of abuse

The boys club, which was established in 1966, was perhaps the most successful feeder club of its generation in Scotland.

It had close ties to the senior club, sharing players, officials and premises. The boys played in the famous green and white hoops of Celtic.

The legal case has hinged on whether Celtic the company was a separate entity from the boys club.

Celtic had argued it was, and that therefore it was not legally responsible for the abuse which took place over decades at the hands of multiple abusers.

This was a position the company was heavily criticised for, since the evidence that the boys club was part of the fabric of Celtic seemed compelling.

Lawyers acting for the former players argued that the boys club and Celtic were "intimately connected" and the senior club was "vicariously liable" for assaults carried out.

That argument now seems settled.

A number of cases remain outstanding, but lawyers expect those to be concluded in the coming months - perhaps bringing some much-needed closure to what many believe is one of the darkest episodes in the history of Scottish football.