Use of Jesus Army’s fortune is appalling, says victims’ lawyer
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A lawyer representing 150 victims of the Jesus Army said plans to allow people accused of child abuse to receive a share of the cult’s fortune were “shameful”.
A BBC investigation revealed 172 former loyal members of the disgraced Northamptonshire-based evangelical sect would receive much larger payouts than those awarded to victims under a redress scheme.
It is understood some who have been people accused of perpetrating or covering up abuse could be among the beneficiaries of the group’s assets – which is estimated to be more £50m – a prospect survivors have described as “sickening”.
Malcolm Johnson, a lawyer from Lime Solicitors, said the only right action to take was redirect the leftover assets for charitable use.
A spokesperson for the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust (JFCT), which is winding up the group’s affairs, said the identities of the fund’s beneficiaries were not being disclosed to protect the privacy of victims who made their allegations in confidence.
He insisted the trustees had consulted with Mr Johnson over a long period of time and had no powers to redirect the assets.
Under a court order, anyone with unresolved claims against the JFCT must have made an application by 16 October, otherwise they will have permanently lost the ability to do so.
Over 50 years the Jesus Fellowship acquired dozens of large houses and successful businesses, paid for by its 3,500 community members who often put everything they earned and owned into a trust.
Documents seen by the BBC reveal the group’s assets in 2017 were valued at £58.6m.
When the trust closed in 2020, the assets were liquidated and about £25m was divided among the remaining 172 members – known as listed beneficiaries – in the form of relief of need, or return of capital.
Beneficiaries have also reported receiving a lump sum of £63,000.
Last year the trust compensated 601 victims who say they suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse in the Jesus Fellowship, with individuals receiving about £13,000 each on average.
The damages were partly paid for by insurers and court papers show £25m remains in the trust, which will now also be shared among the listed beneficiaries.
It would mean about 10% of the Jesus Fellowship’s total assets have been spent on victims, though the trustees insisted the true figure was closer to 20%
Read more https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjv3nwkn94o.amp
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