The first legal claim letter relating to the Mohammed Al-Fayed abuse scandal has gone in as barristers representing survivors announced a billion-pound agreement with a major law firm.
The legal team confirmed it had now been contacted by over 400 people with regards to the Al-Fayed abuse scandal, rapidly rising from 19 people they were working with over the summer.
Bruce Drummond said they were handling 421 enquiries regarding the “industrial-scale abuse”, with the majority contacting them from the UK, while claims against Al-Fayed and Harrods are coming from all over the world.
Drummond said it was the “worst case of corporate sexual abuse of women that the world has ever known,” listing survivors who had contacted the team from the UAE, the USA, across Europe and Asia.
At a central London press conference, Dean Armstrong KC said “We are again privileged to share the same room as many of our survivors. Many more are watching across the world. We salute you for your incredible bravery and it’s our honour to serve you.”
He added that the team had reached an agreement with a major law firm who will be handling the processing of these claims, a law firm who have extensive experience in this field.
The first legal claim letter relating to the Mohammed Al-Fayed abuse scandal has gone in
PA
The silk said the team had a backing of over a billion pounds.
The senior lawyer said that the first legal letter would be followed by many more.
“Anyone who thinks that it’s one, it’ll be followed today by another, it’ll be followed the day after by others, and it’ll be followed by hundreds more.”
He added: “If we are pushed, if our survivors are pushed into having to defend themselves to defend themselves in order to achieve justice, we are ready, we are resourced, and we are determined.”
Bruce Drummond said that the team was also announcing a class action against the Al-Fayed estate, noting that much of the abuse occurred throughout his empire of business and personal properties, including Park Lane apartments and yachts.
“There is clear evidence of a team of enablers who supported Fayed, we expect that these enablers will eventually be named by the press, and face further consequences,” the lawyer said.
Dean Armstrong said: “Our survivors have been let down by significant parts of our society and the threats to them and the obstacles placed in front of us as we seek to navigate the path to justice for them has not dimmed, it’s enhanced our resolve.
“Much of the senior leadership remains the same. Sporting institutions can’t be allowed to hide behind apologies to excuse lack of accountability.”
He added: “We are again privileged to share the same room as many of our survivors. Many more are watching across the world. We salute you for your incredible bravery and it’s our honour to serve you.”
The silk warned that the “sheer scale of abuse … sadly continues to grow” as the team’s enquiries expand.
Al-Fayed was accused of raping five women and sexually abusing at least 15 other survivors while working at Harrods, a BBC documentary revealed last month.
The billionaire, who passed away last year aged 94, was said to have assaulted women who worked at the London department store from the late 1980s to 2000s.
Reports added that the assaults were carried out at the company’s offices, in Fayed’s London apartment, or on trips abroad.
One woman, who says she was raped by Fayed in his Park Lane apartment, said: “I made it obvious that I didn’t want that to happen. I did not give consent. I just wanted it to be over.”
She said: “He raped me. Afterwards, you blame yourself. You’re there to do a job and this is your boss standing there in front of you in a dressing gown. And so even when you’re trying to get out of the situation, I’m trying not to offend him.”
Another said she was a teenager when she was raped. “Mohamed Al Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever,” she said.
The woman said that all the Harrods staff “were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear”.
Over 20 women who were employed by Al-Fayed told the BBC investigation that the prominent department store had covered up the abuse.
Al-Fayed sold the store in 2010 and its current owners said they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations and apologised to the victims when the information was revealed.