Celtic have taken a major step regarding a long-standing issue. The club have now reached a settlement in a legal case.
The matter relates to historical abuse claims. It goes back several decades and involves serious allegations.
A victim had brought forward a case against the club. He claimed he was abused during his time at a youth setup.
Initially, Celtic denied any responsibility. So, the case looked set to continue through legal proceedings.
However, there has now been a breakthrough. The club have agreed to an out-of-court settlement. The victim has received a five-figure sum. That brings an end to this particular case.
The abuse was linked to the former coach at Celtic Boys Club, Frank Cairney. The incidents were said to have taken place in 1989.
Cairney had already faced legal consequences. He was convicted on multiple charges and jailed in 2019. The victim spoke openly about the impact.
He explained how the effects have lasted for decades. He said (via The BBC):
“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.”
The victim also added:
“It’s been tough to get here but I’m proud of myself for not giving up.”
So, the settlement has given him a sense of closure. He feels that his voice has finally been heard. This is not an isolated case. There have been previous claims linked to the same period.
Last year, multiple victims reached settlements with the club. That situation involved payouts exceeding £1 million. So, this remains a sensitive and ongoing issue around Celtic’s past.
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