WATCH: Another victim has stepped forward in the sexual abuse case targeting Westmount after a former PeeWee hockey player Matthew Bissonette spoke out about the sexual abuse he claims he suffered at the hands of a former hockey coach. Anne Leclair has more.
MONTREAL – Less than a week after the first alleged victim filed a petition in court to launch a class action lawsuit against the City of Westmount, at least one more person has stepped forward with a similar story.
“Over the weekend for example, I received an email from someone who had a very sad and troubling story and his identity will be kept confidential,” said lawyer Annabel Busbridge.
The court motion claims the city turned a blind eye and failed to put a stop to decades of alleged abuse by former hockey coach and long-time city employee John Garland.
Former Westmount resident turned Hollywood independent film director Matthew Bissonette was the first to step forward with allegations of abuse against his former PeeWee hockey coach.
READ MORE: Former Westmount PeeWee hockey player alleges he was abused by coach
Westmount’s mayor Peter Trent called the case “one person’s unsupported allegations” on Monday, but at least one more alleged victim has contacted lawyers to join the lawsuit.
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“I can confirm with absolute certainty that this went on to other boys aside from Matt, who have now become men and who have dealt with this for many, many years,” said Busbridge, who filed the court petition on Friday. But before a judge will authorize a class action lawsuit, more people need to come forward.
“I can’t reveal how many have come forward. We are keeping that information strictly confidential,” insisted Busbridge. “We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable coming forward and that they know their names will never be published.”
Lawyers expect to get a court date within the next year, and it will be up to the judge to give the class action lawsuit the green light depending on a long list of criteria, including if the number of victims is enough to warrant class action.
Bissonette is hoping someone from City Hall will reach out before the case goes to trial.
“I’m completely open to meeting with Peter Trent the mayor or with Mike Deegan who runs the city,” said Bissonette from his home in Los Angeles. “I believe in seeing if we can work together and find a way for a healthy and a positive solution to the abuse that was allowed to happen there.”
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