Sexual assault on teenagers near Toulouse: the management of the football club “knew” affirming the victims
Sexual violence in sport: a taboo subject, but speech is gradually being freed. Near Toulouse, several mothers are demanding the resignation of the president of the Aussonne football club, Dominique Bru, and of all the staff.
Management “knew” and did nothing
They are the mothers of the victims of Didier Thomas. A predator, “the handyman of the club”, who was sentenced to 8 years in prison for twenty sexual assaults on teenagers, all dismissed from the Etoile Aussonnaise club. Isabelle, Hélène and others have decided to form a collective, because they believe that the management of the club has a responsibility in this matter. ; “for us there were shortcomings” auto “we realized that the club management had been alerted” Isabelle is indignant.
A written sentence “black on white” in the report of the following statement of facts: “during a meeting of the leaders, a physiotherapist evokes the fact that Didier Thomas cuts the hair and shaves the sex of the young people”. For the mother “Bringing up the sex of young people should make you jump, and it didn’t.” The investigation showed that in achieving his ends, the educator locked the young victims, in a double turn, in an isolated room. Locking several doors to ensure a form of tranquility.
Victims traumatized for life and a president who clings to his post
Today the victims, generally satisfied with the conviction, are likely to be destroyed. My boy “drank a lot“, “Ibarked him all the time” “he doesn’t dare to give babies a bath” and “let’s not talk about the consequences on romantic relationships ” explain one of the mothers who once made the link with the assaults, “he collapsed when I spoke to him for the first time about what we suspected of Didier Thomas”.
Hélène thinks that the management of the club, its president Dominique Bru in mind, is in “denial”. The management in any case “should have taken responsibility” and “to resign“considers the mother of the family; “he is the captain of the boat, we put our children in his hands“, “I do not know why he clings to the post … the power probably, he is known in Aussonne and that gives him importance”, pay as much “he didn’t even apologize to the victims” she adds. Did apologize mean to him an acknowledgment of responsibility? “Maybe … parents asked him why he wasn’t quitting, he said he didn’t feel guilty ” recalls the mother of the family.
Dominique Bru, contacted, did not respond to our requests.
“All at fault”
Thierry (his first name has been changed), one of the club’s coaches, gives his support to the “courageous mothers” of Aussonne, but does not necessarily want to “cut heads”. “We are all at fault, it is not only the management which has been faulty. Didier Thomas was a manager, a friend, a client too. We let this guy do it. Perhaps relatives of the president were victims in this matter then we must moderate certain remarks. It is sad to have to set up a group to make leave the direction, I do not know if this is the solution. She should have taken the lead and resigned herself. “
The Didier Thomas affair has not finished causing a stir in Aussonne.