Settlement Reached in Historic Abuse Case
Celtic Football Club has paid a five-figure sum to a victim of historic sexual abuse, resolving the case just one month after legal proceedings commenced.
The claimant, whose identity remains confidential due to legal restrictions, initiated legal action alleging he was sexually abused by Frank Cairney at Celtic Boys Club in 1989. Cairney served as a coach at the boys club during that period.
Initially, Celtic denied any liability but subsequently agreed to an out-of-court settlement.
Background on Frank Cairney
Frank Cairney, from Viewpark in North Lanarkshire, was convicted in February 2019 of nine charges related to the sexual abuse of young footballers during the 1980s and received a four-year prison sentence.
Victim's Statement on Impact of Abuse
The victim described the enduring psychological effects of the abuse, emphasizing the lasting shame and mental impact.
"When people think of abuse they often think of one act that happened one time, or that it happened so long ago you should just be able to move past it but it simply isn't like getting injured – you can't just limp on until you get better," he said.
"Abusive acts may be physical but the impact, for me, is nearly all mental and the worst of it is a paralysing feeling of shame and it's something I've been dealing with for nearly 40 years.
"It is a strange, confusing and angering feeling – you know what happened wasn't your fault yet at the same time you feel responsible for it… then you get angry at yourself for letting yourself get affected by it."
Concerns Over Lack of Early Action
The victim also highlighted that multiple authority figures failed to respond adequately to his complaints made shortly after the abuse occurred.
"In terms of the settlement, I feel like I've finally been heard because shortly after the attacks I spoke to multiple authority figures yet no-one listened or took meaningful action," he said.
"It's been tough to get here but I'm proud of myself for not giving up and I'd really encourage others to not give up on their own hopes for justice either."
Legal Proceedings and Expert Commentary
Legal documents filed at the Court of Session detailed the sexual abuse suffered by the claimant at the hands of Cairney in 1989.
Richard Pitts, a partner at the Digby Brown law firm and specialist in historic abuse claims, expressed pride in his client’s persistence throughout the case.
Frank Cairney, now aged 90, was imprisoned in 2019 following convictions on nine charges related to the sexual abuse of boys. A subsequent facts hearing determined he also indecently assaulted three boys between 1978 and 1989.
Previous Settlements and Club's Position
In the previous year, Celtic settled claims from 24 victims of historic sexual abuse, with total payouts exceeding £1 million.
Celtic FC had previously maintained that the Celtic Boys Club operated as a "separate entity" and was not formally linked to the football club.
