A London court on Monday dismissed eight men, victims in their childhood of the actions of a trainer convicted since for acts of pedocriminality. They demanded damages from Manchester City.
The plaintiffs, in their forties and fifties today, had explained that they had been sexually abused by Barry Bennell, 68, who is currently serving a thirty-year sentence for pedophile crimes against 12 boys between 1979 and 1991.
The club “had not entrusted Bennell with the care of the victims”, according to the judge
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] did not entrust 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 in which the club recruited 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 “apologized wholeheartedly, both personally [auprès des victimes] and publicly, for the unimaginable suffering they endured after their abuse. The club reiterates its apologies today, ”said a spokesperson.