A London court on Monday dismissed eight men, victims in their childhood of the actions of a coach since convicted of pedophilia, who demanded damages from Manchester City.
The eight plaintiffs, in their forties and fifties, had explained that they had been sexually abused by Barry Bennell, 68, who is currently serving a thirty-year prison sentence for pedophile crimes on twelve boys between 1979 and 1991.
An insufficient link
The facts would have taken place between 1979 and 1985, in the north-west of England, and the eight men claim that Bennell was then a recruiter for the Citizens, which the club disputed on those dates.
The judge refused the compensation claims for psychological damage and, for six of them, for potential loss of income related to footballing careers that they never had.
He considered that the link between these abuses and Bennell’s relationship with the club was insufficient to make the club jointly and severally liable. “This relationship gave Bennell the opportunity to commit these crimes, but the MCFC (Manchester City Football Club) had not entrusted Bennell with the care of the victims,” he explained. “It follows that the MCFC has not been shown to be legally responsible for the criminal acts committed by Bennell,” he added.
Complainants “shocked and distraught”
Victims’ lawyer David McClenaghan said his clients were “shocked and distraught” at the court’s decision and would appeal. “Although the judge admits that there is a connection between Bennell and Man City and that he was a good recruiter for them, that he coached teams that the club recruited into and that he organized detection matches for them , the club escapes any responsibility on a detail ”, he lamented.
Manchester City declined to comment, saying it would be “improper” because of the appeal that should be filed.
City “has apologized wholeheartedly, both personally (to the victims) and publicly, for the unimaginable suffering endured following the abuse they suffered. The club reiterates its apologies today, ”said a spokesperson.
