Celtic statement

Normally avoid this subject as it’s not something I particularly like to talk about, but the club have properly * this one up. Even after the initial sacking and re hiring of Torbett, which to this day I still don’t know why this happened, the opportunity was there to apologise to the victims, hold our hands up, and do everything in our power as a club to raise awareness and make sure this never happens again at another club. Instead we stay quiet and hope it goes away. Now Torbett gets the jail and we pull out some weird statement full of excuses. Don’t like it one bit.

It’s time to rip the bandaid off, launch an investigation and actually look like we care. No matter how much we wish it never happened, it did.

 

it's a bit rich for the BBC to be pointing the finger at anyone,almost as if Jimmy saville never happened

 

Looked through the thread a bit and it seems some of our own fans are mistaken or misinformed to the extent that this is even a Celtic issue. As far as I'm aware, the only formal link was Torbett, using his links to certain board members at the time, asking and receiving permission to use the Celtic name and branding in exchange for a 'first option' of sorts on their players. The organisation is entirely separate, and Celtic had no explicit control over anything to do with the running of the club.

Also, it becomes a bit more difficult to have sympathy for a certain victim in the case, when rather than take legal action against the organisation directly involved, they instead decide to chase the £ and go after Celtic instead.

 

Celtic Boys Club early 80’s

the boys club players knew, the innuendo about certain players being “favourites” was rife. I didn’t understand it but there was an uneasy air about the squad.

Fast forward to early 90’s and the annual trip to Kearny NJ when one player stood up and said he’d had enough.

The North American Association complained and it was only when Fergus took over he listened and then said that Torbett and one other would have no further association or affiliation with Celtic the name whether it be boys club or the club itself.

I was lead to believe that Torbett, a Rangers supporter, had been hunted from their set up many many years before, this could be entirely wrong and I apologise if this is the case.

There were folks at the club in the 90’s who believed in innocent until proven guilty who themselves had come through the ranks of the boys club. As they had not been directly affected they couldn’t believe the allegations. This caused internal and public strife in the mid 90’s.

The young man who stood up and complained was punted quietly after making a promising break through in the first team.

There are obvious legalities, but it is still shameful that this went on. Shameful because people must have known. Who they were will be subject to conjecture and there will be continued slurs, allegations and falsehoods. There is also the truth. The truth is that people in positions of influence abused young boys at the boys club whose dream it was to progress through the ranks to the first team.

These foul acts happened at other clubs throughout the land as these sick individuals were preying on boys who thought they would lose their dream if they didn’t comply. The evil swines who did this should be publicly flayed.

No amount of sympathy and words will ever compensate for the mental anguish and scars put upon the poor victims.

Sadly there will be point scoring and faux outrage from people inside glass houses who should be more self aware. I include the Scottish media in this statement as they are simply sensationalising and playing to the baying hordes. None of these people have any real sympathy whatsoever for the victims otherwise they would rightly condemn the perpetrators and be more measured in their coverage.

I shall repeat that it is shameful that the name Celtic is associated with the abuse of young boys. We simply can’t escape this. We shall have to continually endure the insensitive public disgrace of others point scoring without realising that the same thing was going on at their own affiliated boys clubs. The statement today tried to cover that, but as these fools who care nothing for the victims are so completely lacking in self awareness the revelling of pointing the finger and using sickening child abuse as a way to attempt to bring down the football club will continue unabated.

Whether or not the club would be liable for compensation is one of morality as opposed to legality. The affiliation and separate entity mitigates the club. Should they offer compensation independently in an attempt at reparation they will leave themselves wide open to perhaps spurious claims and a litany of drawn out arguments and counter arguments. Sadly for the victims I don’t think financial compensation from the club is realistic.

Sadly for the victims I don’t think they will ever get true peace other than the justice of a conviction. Many just want to try to put it behind them.

We must remember all these young men were, and are, victims.

The hullabaloo from the usual suspects in Scotland pays the victims no respect and simply highlights how desperate they are. That is a shame too.

 

That * lawyer McGuire should be hung.
All that * wants is money nothing else.
Typical * lawyer.

 

Feel sickened by the whole thing. I have great sympathy with the victims but make no mistake our club is under attack and it needs to deal with this. An independent enquiry should be set up and backed. Let the cards fall where they may...... justice has to be done. The club needs to wash itself clean however it comes about.

 

They idiots are just hoping we get the same treatment as them in some sort of demotion down the league's or even a title stripping etc which i cant see happening

We could be hit finanically right enough but nothing to bad of what they are hoping for

 

Could we really ? Nonsense.

 

This is what i always thought but there must be more to it if they are legally persuing Celtic football club? surley they wouldnt waste there time

 

if they are now actively trying to sue celtic they must feel they have some grounds for legal pay out which i assume will be paid by us

 

They would be suing the guy involved personally. What grounds could Celtic be sued ? Bearing in mind the guy was only actually convicted 2 days ago.

 

id be lieing if i say i knew how the whole process works to be honest but just from what i read this morning, the lawyer wants celtic pay the compensation or he will see them in court , thats what im basing it on

 

https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/celtic-legal-action-torbett/

 

A bitter chancer trying to make a name for himself.

The victims statement says Celtic should take responsibility for it happening in their name, which is stupid in itself. If that's successful it would open a massive can of worms.

 

* huns will be all over this, this morning.

 

true but i dont know what celtic can say to distance themselves for it as no one really seems to be buying into the whole Celtic BC had nothing to do with us argument

 

The former board members need to come out and speak up on his ties with the club, which I personally think were only on a financial level.

I just don't understand the victims thinking. To me it sounds more like a lawyer trying to make money and a name for himself putting idea's in to his head.

Time will tell, but I fully support any investigation if there is reasonable cause for doing so.

 

yeah it would be good to hear from the previous board members who where involved at the time it should be them being investigated not celtic

yeah in the statement the lawyer makes it clear hes only after the money ''do the right thing or we will see you in court''

i think its only a matter of time before an investigation starts one way or another

 

This we are not the same organisation may be the smart league standpoint, but it’s Hun patter..

We need to face up to our responsibilities around this and fully engage with the victims. The Lawyer they have appointed is well, being a lawyer with his statement.

But compensation for the victims and an apology for how they were allowed to be abused by a beast using our Club's name and prestige as shield needs to come.

We’ve avoided it for too long and dragging the victims though a court case we would probably win, would be unacceptable imho and would prolong their suffering. Money won’t be the answer to their problems but may help provide a bit of closure if we accept some of the responsibility for what happened to them.

An enquiry might help too.. as those responsible should be held accountable.

 

who pays the compo though if its no directly our fault?