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September 28, 2000
January 7, 2001 |
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United Kingdom: Scotland
Friday
August 25, 2000
12:42 GMT
CRUELTY CHARGE FALLS AFTER COLLAPSE
A NUN HAS BEEN ACQUITTED OF ONE OF A SERIES OF CHILD CRUELTY CHARGES
after a woman collapsed in the witness box.
Ellen Grant fainted after describing her time at a Roman Catholic
children's home in Aberdeen as "hell".
She had to be taken to hospital and was later excused from giving further
evidence at the trial of Marie Docherty.
Sheriff Colin Harris ordered that the nun, also known as Sister Alphonso,
should be formally acquitted on the charge relating to Miss Grant.
But she still faces 22 further charges of cruelty towards young girls at
Nazareth House between 1965 and 1980. Sister Alphonso denies all
charges. Marie Docherty faces 22 charges, all of which are denied. The
charges date from 1965 to 1980 and include forcing girls to kiss dead
nuns; punching, slapping and kicking girls; and forcing girls to wear
soiled underwear.
Miss Grant told Aberdeen Sheriff Court she was sent to Nazareth House
when she was eight after her mother died.
She said that on her arrival she was crying and missing her mother.
Sister Alphonso is said to have told her" "Your Mum is dead, you are an
orphan and nobody wants you."
She said she also tried to stay awake at night because she feared she
might wet the bed and face having the soiled sheets put over her head.
When asked if she could remember her time at Nazareth House she replied
"it was hell".
Miss Grant fainted as she recalled her experiences and the trial had to
be adjourned while she was given medical care.
On Friday, another witness, Grace Montgomery, 37, said a television
programme had prompted her to tell police about her treatment.
She said she had blanked out her time at the Nazareth House home in
Midlothian and admitted her recollection of the eight years she was there
were vague.
The trial was adjourned until Monday.
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