The payout has been shared among 24 former Celtic Boys Club players, while three cases will continue individually. Settlement terms have not been disclosed, but Thompsons Solicitors confirmed it was a “seven figure sum”. One case was withdrawn. Nine further cases remain ongoing.

The group action had been raised by 28 former players. At the Court of Session, Ian Mackay KC, representing the pursuers, asked Lord Arthurson to bring the proceedings to an end.

Mr Mackay said Celtic and the players’ lawyers agreed that each settlement should be tailored to individual needs, reflecting how the assaults had affected victims differently. 

“Some individuals were the subject of serious sexual assaults have relatively minor psychological consequences,” he said.

“On the other hand, some individuals have been the victims of less serious sexual assaults but have enormous psychological consequences.”

Each claimant was assessed by psychologists, with reports submitted to Celtic to inform compensation levels.

The abuse was carried out by James Torbett and Frank Cairney, later convicted of sex offences against boys at the club. Celtic had maintained that the boys club was a “separate entity”, but in 2022 Lord Arthurson allowed former players to sue, after hearing arguments that the two organisations were “intimately connected”.

Laura Connor, a partner at Thompsons, said: “Our clients have acted with resolute dignity throughout. At long last, they have achieved success and can take this compensation as confirmation that Celtic boys club was indeed inextricably linked to Celtic Football Club.”

Celtic said it was “very sorry that these events took place at Celtic Boys Club” and stressed it had taken the abuse “extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations”.

Closing the case, Lord Arthurson noted it involved “the suffering of many individuals and the related criminal conduct of others”, but said his ruling had to focus on “matters of fact and law”. He thanked counsel for their work and formally ended the proceedings.