‘Legal victory but monetary loss’ for Saville accusers

Women who say they were sexually abused by television personality Jimmy Savile have won a legal battle but lost a money fight.

The Court of Appeal sanctioned a compensation scheme set up for victims. But three appeal judges said many lawyers’ bills would have to be paid out of Savile’s estate — thought to be worth around £3m (€3.8m).

Lawyers say the appeal court decision to back the compensation scheme will bring “great relief”. And they say they are analysing the decision on legal costs — which means that less money will be available to give to victims in compensation — and considering whether to ask the Supreme Court to consider the issue.

A High Court judge had sanctioned the compensation scheme following a hearing in London in February despite objections from a charity which is the major beneficiary of Savile’s estate.

The Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust said the scheme — agreed between the estate executor, the NatWest bank, and lawyers representing alleged victims — did not assess the ”validity” of claimants and lacked a “process of evaluation”.

And trustees asked the Court of Appeal to review Mr Justice Sales’s decision.

Appeal judges yesterday concluded that Mr Justice Sales had been right to sanction the scheme – and right to refused to order NatWest to be replaced as executor.