Celtic statement

There isn't much Celtic can really do though, the reality was despite connections to them we really didnt have anything to do with them. It's not like we operated them and have all the documents and proof of everything they done and everyone who ever worked for them. The Club really doesn't know anything about how they were run or who worked for them probably as they must have had 20-30 coaches and guys operating their teams for decades - hundreds of people must have worked for them over that time 90% of whom Celtic probably don't even know exist.

So Celtic can't really do any investigation, Celtic Boys Club would have to do it themselves but even they probably don't have the resources and it could be the guys who run them and work there now don't even know who worked there 20, 30 or 40 year ago either.

The main thing is the guys been caught and in jail now although its too late and its not long enough.

As for compensation there won't be any, suing Celtic will be futile as Celtic aren't actually involved so nothing can happen and suing Celtic Boys Club would most likely be a waste of time since I doubt they have any money.

 

Tbh I don't think there is going to be any compensation paid by the club.

Celtic Boys' Club was and is a separate legal entity, so will be responsible for all liabilities.

There is perhaps a ‘moral argument’ that Celtic, given its close association with the Boys’ Club, should nonetheless pay reparations to the victims, but I can’t see this being followed.

Indeed, there is already precedent in this regard: Newco Rangers recently directed a victim who had been abused as a child at Ibrox during the Old Rangers regime, towards the club’s liquidators.

 

An investigation would, imo, show we are determined to find out, if possible, how it happened and make any changes, if needed to try and ensure it can never happen again. We would also be able to publish the findings as that may shed some light on why he was allowed back, I would like to know how that happened.

 

"We" can't do anything though. Remember they aren't connected to us really, Celtic don't actually control or have any say over what they do.

We can't demand to see lists of everyone who worked for them and contact details or anything like that to start an investigation. They would need to do it themselves, it's probably not even legal for Celtic to snoop around another business?

When you think of it, they could probably sue Celtic if we were harrassing them for details and accusing them of stuff?

 

Sorry but members of the old board failed in their duty of care imo, they should hang their heads in shame even if the boys club was a separate entity. As I’ve said they put business interests with that * ahead of children’s safety.

 

There are no individuals responsible but the company is still culpable. You don’t lose a claim against a company because the staff changed since the incident. Celtic had the power to hire and fire people at the boys club so to say that they didn’t have any link at all would be a lie.

 

Who are you talking about here?

 

I think the reasons are well documented per say, he left with praises, wether the people in charge intentionally swept it under the carpet at the time who knows, he came back in 1978 amid some internal minor protests but ultimately was allowed back.

Unfortunately the whole jock knew thing probablly has a small bit of truth to it, meaning when he found out they punted him, but he ultimately returned after Jock left.

 

Torbett resigned under pressure, he wasn't sacked.

Celtic FC had no power to sack him.

They did have a citizens' duty to inform the authorities, but they couldn’t legally sack him.

 

Do we actually know that though? I thought it was just speculation.

Like if Celtic ran them and sacked and hired people surely we would all know who done what and have all the contracts and stuff? we would know who hired and sacked who and who was operating them.

I've always thought Torbett actually owned Celtic Boys Club and ran it with just random people? and that it was only speculation that Celtic owned them or had any say over them other than we kept close ties to them to sign players off them.

 

The board members who had ties with Torbett, Jack McGinn and Kevin Kelly. Both were involved in various businesses with him which Fergus I believe put to an end when he took over.

 

How could Fergus McCann put an end to something he or Celtic werent involved in though?

I feel like nobody really knows anything about all this stuff and everyone just speculates on things that we don't even know are true or not?

 

So why aren't they being chased individually for claims then?

I'm sure they're not short of a bob or two, certainly not the * who's name I won't mention who at least did have a few quid.

 

Is that the truth though? It’s been reported that the celtic board rehired him so it stands to reason that they had the power to sack him too. Whether they did sack him or he walked is irrelevant, if they had the power to do it then they still failed their duty of care.

 

I think by the time Fergus was there it was truly swept and forgotten, from the previous people in charge...

 

Probably because they never worked or had any ties to Celtic BC.

 

Aye I’m not saying it isn’t the smart thing to do to protect the Club financially.

However apology and compensation if necessary is the right thing to do.

 

Celtic didnt have any ownership over Celtic BC to hire or sack anyone.

 

I don't really know exactly who, if anyone else, knew all about this, but certainly he was known as a bit of a "weird" yin as far as I'm led to believe, or "one for the watching".

i.e. always attending events and whatnot never with a burd on his arm or anything like that.

 

Well maybe they should be because im sure Kelly was the honorary chairman of the boys club when Torbett was brought back. This is my point about him and other members of the then board being involved with that * out with football.