Young footballers abused by coaches discussion thread

Agreed. I find all those terms, like 'closure' and 'move on' to be a manufactured way to tidy up and compartmentalise suffering. They serve little more purpose than to aid those who do not suffer to know when it's OK to start looking the other way again. Suffering isn't something that can be switched off, however inconvenient that may be to society. Unfortunately, it can still be ignored completely.

 

6 former players have come forward about Higgins according to BBC.

 

Apparently a thing on South Today tonight about it... according to my Dad. From what he said by text, sounded a little like a rehash of The Mirror article this morning. I'm 1992 he was acquitted as no evidence available.

 

Acquitted, but the police were concerned enough to issue a warning to schools and clubs about him.

 

It appears that the person in question has now been named by the BBC.

 

Works for Fleet Town....spokesman said they didn't do a safety check on him as he only works with adults.

 

Yes, that's true.

 

Higgins just been named on the national news.
No hiding place now.

 

Just about to say on main bbc news. Left Fleet now.

 

That's strange that bit. 5 years after being aquitted on 6 charges by 'direction of the judge' police & social services released a joint statement saying he 'posed a risk to children'.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38200993
As mentioned the BBC have named Bob Higgins.

 

The judge must have been unhappy about the strength of the evidence or how it was obtained. In most sexual assault and rape cases (not saying this was rape) it is one persons word against another. The jury of course don't have to accept the judges direction (I believe)*. However, the police must have been very concerned that he shouldn't work with children....that says a lot because an innocent man might have taken them to court...they obviously knew that he wouldn't want to resurrect the case. It seems unlikely, but officially this man is innocent....imagine his situation if he really is.

*Does anyone know if this is true.

 

Had a little google . Apparently the judge can order the jury to acquit if the prosecution case is too weak to proceed....as it must have been in this case.

 

How does a case get to court if it's too weak to convict? Did someone back out who was going to testify?

 

Treading carefully... but I believe the Judge's ruling came as bolt out the blue to everyone, especially the CPS & Police who thought their case was strong.

Didn't know he ended up at Fleet Town, but was aware he was still running his own academy.

 

I don't think so.

 

I see the football league wrote to all clubs in 1989 advising them not to employ him/his organisation without first contacting them for further appraisal of the situation.. He later worked for Peterborough...

 

I did read a paper report that said a few of victims weren't requested to give evidence at all by the judge...

 

Charlton Athletic have begun an investigation into claims a youth player was sexually abused while at the club in the 1980s.

The accusations were made by Russell Davy in an interview with the Sunday Mirror.

Mr Davy said he has informed the Football Association that he had been abused in 1986 by scout Eddie Heath, who is now dead.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38208884

Three Welsh police forces are investigating allegations of historical child sexual abuse at football clubs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38207677

 

I think the welsh one is probably linked to Bennell and might be the paedophile ring that has been alluded to in the "conspiracy theories" about Gary Speed's death where his unpublished autobiography was going to include details of this ring.