Jimmy Savile Compensation: Victims Roll Up To The Great Charity Give Away
Slogans painted on the cottage owned by Jimmy Savile in Glencoe, Scotland.
HOW much does one of Sir Jimmy Savile’s victims get? The Sun knows:
OUTRAGED victims of Jimmy Savile have been told to expect payouts of just £7,500.
Surely the victims are more outraged that the BBC and NHS’s pet paedo got away with his alleged crimes?
Those targeted by the sex beast are expected to reject the “pitiful” compensation. It is thought people who were raped by the late DJ may get slightly more.
So. The victims are in a hierachy of pain. The real problem, of course, is that nothing has been proven. The news media nd polcie can alla gre that Savile was the most prolific peadophile of all time, but when it coems of actually paying money to victims, evidence, proof and a trial might be necessary.
One victim said: “It’s an insult. It’s not even enough to cover my rent and bills for six months. It’s pitiful.”
Shouldn’t that be ‘alleged victim’?
Savile attacked at least 450 children and adults. When he died aged 84 in 2011, he left £4.3million to 26 beneficiaries.
That number climbs. In February 2014 the BBC said:
The BBC television presenter and DJ is said to have abused more than 200 people over a 60-year period.
In April 2014, the Mail said:
Jimmy Savile’s abuse victims have been instructed how to claim up to £60,000 in compensation in a newspaper advert published today. About 140 people have told police they were attacked by the DJ in hospitals or on BBC premises before he died in October 2011, aged 84. In February the High Court agreed a compensation scheme worth around £3million and victims will be able to make claims against Savile’s estate, the BBC and the NHS. But nobody will receive more than £60,000 and should apply for cash by the start of June.
In November 2014, the Guardian added:
Some women are likely to make fraudulent claims about being sexually abused by Jimmy Savile, appeal judges have been told.
Trustees of a charity that is the major beneficiary of Savile’s estate told the court of appeal that compensation claims had to be scrutinised. They said they had concerns about a compensation scheme agreed between the executor of Savile’s estate – NatWest bank – and lawyers representing alleged victims.
This year a high court judge approved the compensation scheme set up for victims of Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84, despite objections from the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust. Mr Justice Sales sanctioned the scheme following a high court hearing in London in February. He also refused to order the NatWest bank to be replaced as executor.
Sales heard that Savile had been the subject of an ITV television programme broadcast in October 2012. The judge said Savile, who worked at the BBC, had been accused of being a serial child abuser and sex offender. said that following the broadcast a large number of people came forward to make claims that they had been abused by Savile. The judge described the compensation scheme as a “sensible and pragmatic” attempt at solving a “complex situation”. He said the scheme would allow for “sufficient objective scrutiny” of the merits of compensation claims.
He said that following the broadcast a large number of people came forward to make claims that they had been abused by Savile. The judge described the compensation scheme as a “sensible and pragmatic” attempt at solving a “complex situation”. He said the scheme would allow for “sufficient objective scrutiny” of the merits of compensation claims…
Robert Ham QC, for the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust, said the compensation scheme agreed did not assess the validity of claimants. He said it lacked a “process of evaluation”.
“It describes itself as a scheme to provide compensation,” Ham told appeal judges. “It doesn’t describe itself as a scheme to scrutinise and assess claims. As a matter of common sense these sort of situations are likely to attract numbers of fraudulent claims. One certainly cannot proceed on the basis that the claims are valid – or even presumptively valid.”
Savile was rich. The revolting man grew rich of the State’s patronage. But those ‘at least 450’ victims must need judging in a court of law before money is handed over. The Sun adds:
The estate was frozen so the money could be set aside for victims. But one beneficiary, the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust, is challenging that decision in The Court of Appeal. Meanwhile after costs, the value of the estate has dropped to around £2.3million.
Liz Dux, of legal firm Slater and Gordon, representing 170 victims, said: “They are small sums, but we have to be realistic.” She added: “If the Trust wins there is every chance the amount will reduce.”
170 alleged victims. It’s given as a fact.
But what about the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust?
THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY ARE TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND THE RELIEF OF SICKNESS AND OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND OTHER FACILITIES FOR DISABLED PERSONS.
Adding in 2013’s accounts:
So. Lots of cash – lots of it for lawyers. This is from the website of Slater Gordon, which is calling for Savile victims to contact it:
Our initial discussion is free of charge and places you under no obligation. Almost all of the sexual and physical abuse cases and those linked to the Jimmy Savile allegations were able to bring claims on a No Win, No Fee basis. In summary this means that if your claim is unsuccessful your Solicitor is not paid for the work they have done. If your claim is successful, your Solicitor is paid part of their fees by the other party.
So. How many victims are proven?
Slater & Gordon Lawyer Liz Dux is leading our team of Solicitors representing over 170 victims who suffered sexual or physical abuse arising out of the Jimmy Savile allegations.
Who pays the lawyers and the victims?
Even though Jimmy Savile has now died, compensation claims can be brought against his estate. In addition, where appropriate, claims can be brought against the institutions in which the abuse took place. For example, the institutions can be held to be vicariously liable. This means that they can be held responsible for the actions of Jimmy Savile whilst he was an employee or whilst he was in a position which was ‘akin to an employee’.
We are preparing claims against a number of institutions including the BBC and relevant NHS hospitals.
Child abuse is a hugely serious social problem – especially in families – but making allegations against the dead with total impunity cannot be right.
When the Daily Express said “Savile beat and raped a 12-year-old girl during a secret Satanic ritual in a hospital… ‘Savile, who died aged 84 in October 2011, is now Britain’s worst sex offender after police revealed he preyed on at least 450 victims aged eight to 47”, did we not wonder about the facts and why the newspapers and police with all their investigative resources never spotted a single one of the victims when the old pervert was alive?
Posted: 16th, November 2014 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
