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September 28, 2000
January 7, 2001 |
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United Kingdom: Scotland
Wednesday
September 6, 2000
ACCUSED NUN TAKES THE STAND
A nun facing charges of cruelty to children at two Roman Catholic
homes has begun giving evidence in her defence at Aberdeen
Sheriff Court.
Marie Docherty, also known as Sister Alphonso, but who now prefers to be
known as Sister Marie, denies 21 charges of cruelty over a 15-year period
at Nazareth House homes in Aberdeen and Midlothian.
Speaking in a confident but quiet voice, Sister Marie told the court how
she was the twelfth of 12 children from a happy working class family background
in Glasgow.
She said that in 1960, at the age of 18, she decided to join what was
then the Order of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth.
She said she was trained in child care and child psychology, but was at
the bottom of the hierarchy when she began working with children as a junior sister at
Nazareth House in Aberdeen.
She told the court she had taken her first set of vows - of poverty,chastity and obedience
- in May 1962.
When asked by defence counsel Paul Cullen QC, if she had found it easy to
keep her vows, she said: "No, you may put on a habit but you are still
human."
She was also asked about allegations made against her by the first witness at the trial -
Helen Cusiter.
Sister Marie denied them saying she remembered Helen when she was a
child, but said she was part of a different group of girls looked after by a different
nun.
Sister Marie said she had very little contact with her.
The trial, which is in its fourth week,
continues.
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