The Jesus Army is a controversial evangelical religious organisation which has hit the headlines in recent years following allegations of widespread sexual abuse within the organisation.
Noted for its communal lifestyle the organisation appears to have provided an ideal environment for predatory adults to carry out abuse unheeded, with many of the allegations stretching back decades.
We have recently concluded a claim for historic sexual abuse on behalf of a man whose family lived in one of the Jesus Army communal homes when he was a child.
We dealt with his claim on a No Win, No Fee basis, recovering substantial compensation from the Jesus Army on the man’s behalf.
Elizabeth Duncan, who is one of our specialist abuse lawyers, took up the case when she was contacted by the survivor of serious and systematic abuse as a child at the hands of a member of the Jesus Army congregation. He had felt unable to speak out at the time and it was only when he was in his twenties that he was able to tell his mother what had occurred. This ultimately led to a report being made to the police and the conviction and imprisonment of the abuser.
The Jesus Army initially attempted to avoid legal liability by arguing that our client’s compensation claim had been made too late. Generally speaking, claims involving the abuse of a child should be made before the victim reaches their 21st birthday. However, judges recognise that survivors of sexual abuse often find it difficult to discuss what has happened to them. As a result the usual time limits can be extended to allow cases of historic abuse to proceed.
Faced with the threat of court proceedings the Jesus Army backed down and entered into settlement negotiations. This resulted in a compensation package being reached in an out-of-court settlement.
We specialise in dealing with sexual abuse cases, representing abuse survivors nationwide. So, if you are thinking about making a Jesus Army compensation claim and would like to speak to Elizabeth about what it will involve then you can call her on 0333 888 0404 or send her an email at [email protected]
