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United Kingdom: Scotland
Tuesday
September 19, 2000
GMT 18:22

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 in volved 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 the 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 droppen 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.