A woman has welcomed a judge’s ruling which found she was raped by two former Dundee United footballers after they avoided a criminal trial.
As we reported, David Goodwillie, now with Plymouth Argylle, and his ex-United teammate David Robertson have been ordered to pay the woman £100,000 in damages.
Denise Clair, who has waived her right to anonymity, claimed the men raped her in the early hours of January 2, 2011 at a property in Armadale, West Lothian, following a night out in nearby Bathgate.
Damages of £100,000 were agreed in the civil action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
In his judgment, Lord Armstrong said he found her evidence to be “cogent, persuasive and compelling.”
Ms Clair, who was 24 at the time of the incident, was left “devastated, upset and confused” when she was told the men would not be prosecuted.
After the Court of Session judgment, she said: “I am pleased by today’s verdict.
“However, I am bitterly disappointed that I was so badly let down by the criminal justice system and was forced to seek a remedy through the civil court.
“If it was not for the support of my lawyer Cameron Fyfe and the team at Rape Crisis Scotland, I do not know how I could have coped throughout this long, harrowing journey.”
Former Scotland international Goodwillie and Robertson both said they had consensual sex with the woman.
Mr Fyfe said: “I am delighted for Denise. She has shown great courage throughout the case.
“Her determination may encourage other victims who feel they have been let down by the criminal system to turn to the civil court for a remedy.”
