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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand why they want compensation? (warning JS thread)

96 replies

Justforlaughs · 06/11/2012 10:03

I want to make it quite clear that I have every sympathy with anyone who has been sexually abused at any point in their life. However, in this case there seems to be no advantage to chasing compensation from a dead man. The money that he left had mostly been ear-marked for charities, including a heart research centre at Leeds hospital. I really can't see any reason why anyone would be asking for that money to go into their own pocket instead of benefiting people in need. (Gets ready for a pasting)

OP posts:
mrskeithrichards · 06/11/2012 10:04

I agree.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 06/11/2012 10:06

  1. I think victims are 'in need'

  2. Because it sets a precedent - that you can't get away with abuse

seeker · 06/11/2012 10:06

Because many of the people concerned will have had the course of their lives irrevocably changed by their contact with this man.

And in our society we compensate financially people who have been the victims of crime.

And why not?

avivabeaver · 06/11/2012 10:10

well, you might get a pasting, but not from me.

presumably, if it had been reported to police at time they could have got compensation from CICA. surely his estate is settled and all the funds are in charitable trusts?

quite how this would work i dont know, also how will they work out which claims can be proved? by nature, this attracts people who will jump on the bandwagon. can i sue the perv that groped me at 14? I dont think so.

avivabeaver · 06/11/2012 10:11

would add, that i dont disagree in principle with compensation, just cannot see any way in which it could be done really.

Brycie · 06/11/2012 10:11

I understand why they want compensation.

InNeedOfAPennyForTheGuysBrandy · 06/11/2012 10:12

I agree OP

He has got away with the abuse he is now dead. His estates I assume have been settled and while I feel every sympathy with any victim of any abuse I don't see why they should take money that is no longer his away.

Original poster
Justforlaughs · 06/11/2012 10:13

avivabearer as I understand it JS's estate has been frozen in anticipation of compensation pay outs. I don't see ho wall claims can be verified, stories are appearing in the press every day or so it seems) but the only evidence seems to be that they were in the hospital at the same time as he was visiting, or on Jim'll Fix it at some point etc. I'm not implying that any of them are lying btw, just that if he was alive he would have had a chance to defend himself. Now, all I see is people who have been quoted as "wanting to bankrupt his estate". I really don't understand why. Let them build their heart centre with the money, and just don't dedicate to JS.

OP posts:
mmmnoodlesoup · 06/11/2012 10:15

OP, have you been sexually abused as a child?

These victims have had something taken from them. Do they not deserve something back?

I was abused by my sd and I see he now lives a very comfortable life and it makes you sick when you are struggling, not only financially but emotionally, yet the abuser is left laughing.

I can understand why they want compensation tbh.

McHappyPants2012 · 06/11/2012 10:15

I would imagine the compensation money will help them fund counselling to try and move on with their lives.

InNeedOfAPennyForTheGuysBrandy · 06/11/2012 10:15

Yes while I believe the people who have come forward there is no proof apart from what they say yes. So why should anyone get a compo claim for something that's not been proven?

Original poster
Justforlaughs · 06/11/2012 10:19

mmmnoodlesoup no I wasn't sexually abused as a child, I was raped as a teenager, but that's another issue. I can see why someone would want to make the peretrator suffer but in the case they won't be. He is dead, nothing they say now will make any difference to him whatever. Nor would money make me feel any better tbh.

OP posts:
Brycie · 06/11/2012 10:20

Yes noodle. Taking money from charities? Are these people not in need?

Some people have had horrible, horrible lives as a direct result of abuse. Mental scarring, emotional problems, instability, inability to hold down jobs or relationships. They should be shouting it from the rooftops and getting every penny. This should be the end of their shame and humiliation.

Charities had enough money from him when he was using it as a cover for his disgusting activities. I hope they don't want anything more to do with it; I hope very much they don't fight or challenge this.

Brycie · 06/11/2012 10:21

"A compo claim"

mmmnoodlesoup · 06/11/2012 10:22

I don't think the money will make them feel better either, but I can understand them wanting compensation.

People get compensation for a lot less in this country i.e falling over in shops, being sacked for wearing headscarves etc so why not these victims of abuse?

I'm sorry for what happened to you x

threesocksfortheguy · 06/11/2012 10:22

yanbu
I can't see how they can "prove" their claims as he is now dead, and sorry but I do wonder if now the C word has been mentioned if some people will make stuff up.
Please don't misunderstand me I believe there were victims.

valiumredhead · 06/11/2012 10:22

I agree seeker

seeker · 06/11/2012 10:25

"a compo claim"

Jesus wept.

Meepameep · 06/11/2012 10:25

mmmnoodlesoup if something back in lieu of your innocence, etc = money in your hand then I worry and yes I was sexually abused as a child. To be quite honest, I wished him dead for a long time and when that happened, my first thought was not to sue his estate. I would hope that most adults know that money is not going to buy you happiness or bring back what is lost.

mutny · 06/11/2012 10:26

OP, have you been sexually abused as a child?

I have and I still can see where the OP is coming from. There will be no 'guilty' verdict in his case. So who is to say people will not start making up to take money from the estate.

But I also see the other side that they are in need too. Its a very difficult one for me.

Sunnywithachanceofshowers · 06/11/2012 10:27

I can understand why they might want compensation.

No-one has yet taken his estate to court, so this is all speculation right now.

HoneyMurcott · 06/11/2012 10:29

What Mchappy said. Counseling/therapy costs. End of.

yellowsubmarine53 · 06/11/2012 10:29

People who have been victims of crimes like those which JS perpetrated are, within our judicial system, entitled to financial compensation.

JS isn't alive now to receive trial and punishment for his crimes, but the victims are. They live with the consequences of his actions every day.

In the absence of being able to bring a 'guilty' verdict through the judicial system, compensation goes some way towards validating an individual's experience.

Maybe you haven't read or heard any of the testimonies from those JS committed criminal acts towards? It's very, very evident that they are in need.

mmmnoodlesoup · 06/11/2012 10:30

I agree, money won't make things better for them. But I can understand why they feel they deserve something for what happened to them.

For me, I wouldn't actually take any money from my sd. He offered me money recently for my first dc as I'm pregnant and I turned it down. So I'm sure there are victims who wouldn't touch his money either.

If there are going to be dishonest people, falsely claiming then shame on them.

yellowsubmarine53 · 06/11/2012 10:30

I don't imagine that victims of JSs' crimes believe that 'money will bring them happiness'.