Compensation from Jimmy Saville's estate

[dave50]

As sure as night follows day the subject of compensation has risen its ugly head. What is the point? It's just blood money. It is exactly the same as Saville bunging one of his victims a wad of cash when he was alive to keep them quiet. Will this money make them suddenly forget about his abuse if they were so traumatised? The whole thing stinks. How many more alleged 'victims' are going to come out of the woodwork now that they smell a few quid in it?

[joeluke]

You get abused, you come forward 30+ years too late when the abuser is dead and it's too late to bring him to justice

[jackthehat]

Many of his victims came forwards at the time 'as best they could' and were shoo-ed away, or their claims given cursory investigation at best.

The Police interviewed Savile several times and were unable to make a case against him because of the 'she said/he said' nature of the evidence, at that time.

[Graham-W]

I think JTH sums it up well.
"The Police interviewed Savile several times and were unable to make a case against him because of the 'she said/he said' nature of the evidence, at that time. "
I don't think enough will have changed, or new evidence been found, for many cases to go forward to court.

[jackthehat]

Graham-W, the nature of the evidence is different for civil cases; if the claims are not 'time-barred', etc. there may well be enough 'accumulative' evidence for there to be a 'guilty' verdict against Savile.

[dave50]

I still don't understand how being given a load of cash will make all the victims feel better again? Strip him of his knighthood by all means and remove all reference to him in connection with charities, surely that in itself is recognition of the wrong he did if that's what the victims are after, money doesn't need to come into it.

[jackthehat]

Why are you so bothered?

It's not your money.

You are not one of his victims, either.

[Svejk]

Jth. It might not be our money now, but you can bet that once this ball gets rolling it will be. Much finer pickings to be had from the BBC/NHS etc, (anybody wanna bet)
I believe the bank took an independent decision to freeze his assets. Is this legal, should it be?
Moral judgements from bankers,LoL.

[jackthehat]

Suing Savile's estate and suing the BBC, etc. are two very different animals.

[friedgreentomato]

I can't believe some of the attitudes here - those kids did not ask to be abused, they did not ask to have the whole of their adult lives haunted by disbelief and the memories of abuse by an adult they should have been able to trust.

I wonder if you would think differently if it had been a member of your family?

[dave50]

It will be my money if they start suing BBC and the NHS. Money will not make the abuse to be suddenly erased from their memories.

[paul1763]

i have noticed since all this stuff about jimmy saville has come out, the woman wanting dna test claiming to be his daughter seems to have gone very quiet. does she not want his money any more?.

[LazyGun]

Once again - No one is saying that financial compensation will erase trauma associated with abuse. It may go some way to recognising that crime and offer the victim some kind of compensation though.

It is, as JtH has repeatedly said, a civil case with different standards of proof.

Any money offered as compensation from Saviles estate will not come from the pockets of anyone here.

Persuing the BBC, or Stoke Mandeville, or Leeds General for compensation or financial redress is a completely different animal.

If criminal investigations and BBC inquiries now in operation, along with investigations into his behaviour at Broadmoor, Leeds General and Stoke Mandeville show institutional failures, then there may be a case to answer.

It seems some here begrudge the victims compensation on the basis that they are either trying to defraud Saviles estate, fool the public, or that the abuse is not that significant, either because of time elapsed or because it was not that big a deal. This is an extraordinarily cynical and callous view to take of victims of crime.

[ummmm]

Money will not make it better but he isn't here to plead guilty. Money is confirmation and recognition that you're believed.

I was abused as a child, I would have took that to the grave if it wasn't for the fact that I was confronted. Had my abuser been held up as some sort of hero I think I would have felt differently!

[dave50]

But why oh why does everything come down to wanting a shed load of money when anyone has been hurt, abused, insulted. If the person has been punished or there is recognition that in Saville's case he was a pervert then that shows that the victim is recognised and believed.
Give me a great wad of cash and everything will be fine, I suddenly feel so much better. The only reason anyone should receive money in compensation is through loss of earnings or to maintain a standard of living equal to that before the event.

[jackthehat]

You still haven't confirmed what on earth it has to do with you, dave50.

Often the desire for money isn't the main reason, but it is a suitable way of making an 'apology'.

It is difficult to *restore someone to the position they were in prior to the damage* in cases like this; and if some of these victims have had their lives and opportunities blighted because of the abuse they suffered, I have no objection into them receiving financial recompense.

[friedgreentomato]

no one has said they want 'shed loads' of money - I would love to know where you get your information from.
I also love the fact that you have not answered a single question .

[Mick-Talbot]

dave50
It will be my money if they start suing BBC and the NHS.


It was your money that payed Saviles wages. Only right it should be dished out really.