Bennell victims to appeal after losing Man City High Court case
Eight men who were abused by paedophile Barry Bennell more than 30 years ago have said they will appeal after losing a High Court case against Manchester City.
The eight men, now in their 40s and 50s, were abused by Ben ne ll when they were playing school boy football for team she coached-in-north-westengland between 1979 and 1985.
They said Bennell, now 68, was a scout for City during that time and argued that the club was "vicariously liable" for the abuse, because its relationship with Bennell at the time was "one of employment or one a kin to employment".
But a judge dismissed their claims in a ruling yesterday, finding that the legal action was brought "too late" and that the connection between the abuse and ben nell' s relationship with City was" insufficient to give rise to vicarious liability".
A lawyer representing the men said in a statement after the ruling that they would mount an appeal.
David Mcclenaghan, a solicitor at law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, said: "My clients and I are both shocked and dismayed at the High Court decision handed down today, which declined to award them substantial damages in their claims against Manchester City Football Club for abuse suffered at the hands of Barry Bennell.
"Despite the judge accepting that there was a connection between Bennell and Man City and that he was scouting for them, coaching their feeder teams and helping to organise trial games for them, the club has escaped liability on a technicality.
"We do not accept the decision as being correct and will be appealing the decision in the higher courts, where we are confident we will secure the correct and just result."
A City spokeswoman said: "Importantly whilst [the judge] found that the club was not vicariously liable for the actions of Barry Bennell, it was accepted by all parties that the abuse did take place.
"We understand that the legal team for the claimants intend to appeal the decision and, in respecting their right to do so, it would therefore not be appropriate to comment further on these specific proceedings, which remain ongoing."
Bennell is serving a 34-year sentence after being convicted of sexual offences against boys on five separate occasions.