Nun convicted of cruelty

A nun has been found guilty of four charges of cruelty against young girls at childrens' homes in Scotland.
A jury at Aberdeen Sheriff Court found Sister Marie Docherty guilty after retiring on Monday and reconvening on Tuesday morning to consider its verdict.

She was convicted by a majority of the 15 jurors, who decided that three other charges of cruel and unnatural treatment were not proven.

Sister Marie, also known as Sister Alphonso, had denied all 23 charges relating to the treatment of girls at Nazareth House homes in Aberdeen and Midlothian between 1965 and 1980.

Sheriff Colin Harris deferred sentence until 28 September to allow medical reports to be prepared.

The sheriff told the jurors that he would excuse them from jury service for life.

"In view of the length of this trial and the publicity it has generated I will excuse each and every one of you from jury duty for the rest of your lives," he said.

Other members of the nun's order, the Roman Catholic Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth, who had been in court throughout the trial, cried as the sheriff spoke.

One nun in the court's public gallery wept quietly and clutched rosary beads as the verdict was delivered.

Docherty had collapsed earlier in the hearing and was found to be suffering from a heart condition after being examined at a private hospital, but had insisted the trial should continue.

Compensation claims

The solicitor for many of the former residents involved in the case welcomed the verdicts and warned that the Sisters of Nazareth faced compensation claims totalling several million pounds.

Cameron Fyfe said 11 of his clients would now proceed with test cases against the order.

If these succeeded, he said he would seek a settlement for more than 400 other clients who claim they suffered during their times at Nazareth House homes.

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland said it was unable to comment specifically on the case.

He said one of the church's priorities was the protection of children and guidelines were in place that were designed to ensure their safety.

On Monday, Sheriff Harris instructed the jury to find Sister Marie not guilty of 14 of the charges. Two other charges had been dropped during the 26-day trial.

The nun, wearing a blue habit, sat with her head bowed as the courtroom heard the verdict.

She was found guilty of cruel and unnatural treatment of Patricia O'Brien, who was struck against a radiator and punched and slapped repeatedly.

She was also found guilty of the same charge relating to Helen Cusiter, who was force-fed and hit with a hair brush.

Soiled underwear

A charge of cruel and unnatural treatment of Jeanette Adams, who was also hit with a hair brush and force-fed, was also upheld by the jury.

And Docherty was found guilty of the same charge against Grace Montgomery, who was force-fed sweets and had soiled underwear thrown at her.

Sheriff Harris had told the jury of nine women and six men to put to one side their own prejudices and consider the case impartially.

And he urged them to take into account the fact that some of the women who alleged that they suffered cruelty at the hands of the nun may claim compensation.

"It is a factor you are entitled to weigh in the balance," he said.