Eight men who sued Manchester City over alleged abuse by the paedophile Barry Bennell more than 30 years ago have lost their case at the High Court this morning.
The group said Bennell abused them when they schoolboy footballers for teams he coached in the north-west between 1979 and 1985 – and declared themselves ‘shocked’ by the verdict.
They had argued that Bennell was a scout for City during that time, and that the relationship between him and the club was ‘one of employment or one akin to employment’, making City liable for the harm they suffered.
Manchester City denied that claim, saying Bennell was a local City scout in the mid-1970s but not between 1979 and 1985.
Bennell, who is in prison after being convicted of numerous sexual offences against children in recent years, denied being linked to City during the 1980s when he gave evidence during the High Court trial.
But a judge ruled against the men on Monday.Mr Justice Johnson ruled that the connection between the abuse and Bennell’s relationship with City (referred to as MCFC) was insufficient to give rise to vicarious liability.
