Jimmy Savile: now comes the cash
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Chris Denning who has been jailed for 13 years for sexually assaulting 24 boys – including one allegedly at Jimmy Savile’s house.
Jimmy Savile – revered as a Knight of the realm and Papacy in life who became the Devil incarnate in death – is to pay out.
The Times reports:
Around 200 victims of sexual abuse by the television personality Jimmy Savile are in line for compensation after a ruling by appeal judges today.
Can all the victims be proven?
Three judges in the Court of Appeal in London rejected a challenge by a charitable trust which is one of the main beneficiaries of the Savile estate to the £3 million compensation scheme that has been set up. Lawyers representing the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust had argued that the scheme – agreed between the estate executor, the NatWest bank, and lawyers representing alleged victims – was not able to assess the ‘’validity’’ of claimants and lacked a ‘’process of evaluation’’.
Well, yes. That seems reasonable. Should there not be a trial? Not with the dead depraved DJ propped up in the court (it’s not Russia). We should test the evidence in a court of law.
In a ruling in February, however, Mr Justice Sales sitting in the high court sanctioned the compensation scheme – despite objections from the trust. Its lawyers had argued there was a danger that the money would go on litigation when it could be used for charitable causes.
Well, the lawyers could always made a donation.
It also maintained that there was no way of sifting out fraudulent claims which such a compensation scheme would be likely to attract.
That sounds fair. Not everyone is a liar. Of course not. But don’t we treat claims with a healthy sceptisism? Isn’t it that fact that claims made againt Savile in life – as they were made againt victimw of depravity in Rochdale, Rotherham and Oxford – were not treated with an inquiring mind but decided on without investigation what led us to this state?
The Court of Appeal heard that Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84, was the subject of an ITV television programme broadcast in October 2012. He was accused of being a ‘’serial child abuser and sex offender’’ and was alleged to have abused people in hospitals and also at the BBC where he worked.
After the broadcast, a ‘’large number’’ of people came forward to say that they were abused by him.
Well, if you trawl for victims, victims you will find.
Lawyers said the number of people making compensation claims after alleging they were abuse victims had risen above 200. Experts initially put the value of Savile’s estate at around £4 million. But in February, Mr Justice Sales said a ‘’range of expenses’’ was incurred – such as legal costs – and the estate’s value was reduced to about £3.3 million.
Lawyers rejoice!
Liz Dux, a lawyer at Slater & Gordon, a law firm which represents victims, said: “Today’s ruling will bring great relief to Savile’s many victims who have been living with the uncertainty of not knowing whether they would be blocked in their claims. They just want some recognition of what they have been through so they can then be able to move on with their lives. Hundreds of Savile’s victims, who are represented by Slater & Gordon, have already signed up to the scheme in the hope that they would receive some form of justice without the need for drawn-out and costly litigation. The courts were told in length about the system of scrutiny that exists under the scheme and were satisfied that there were sufficient checks and balances in place,” she added.
She repeatedly forgets one word: alleged
The Court of Appeal held that they had no doubt that many of the claims were meritorious and would be successful if litigated. This is not a charter for fraudulent claims.”
You just need to prove it didn’t happen as they say it did.
The Indy adds:
…the scheme, which will see victims receive between £1,000 and £40,000 depending on the severity of their abuse…
The BBC adds:
In February, victims were advised that, under the compensation scheme, they could make claims against the Savile estate, the BBC or the NHS, with payments capped at £60,000.
Will the NHS and BBC pay out?
Posted: 16th, December 2014 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
