|
Back
to Main
April 6, 1999
August 15, 2000
August 16, 2000
August 17, 2000
August 18, 2000
August 21, 2000
August 22, 2000
August 23, 2000
August 29, 2000
August 30, 2000
August 30, 2000
September 6, 2000
September 9, 2000
September 11, 2000 part 1
September 11, 2000 part 2
September 19, 2000 part 1
September 19, 2000 part2
September 19, 2000 part 3
September 28, 2000
January 7, 2001 |
|
United Kingdom: Scotland
Thursday
August 17, 2000
18:57 GMT
NUN BREAKS DOWN OVER WITNESS' ANGUISH
A NUN FACING CHARGES OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN broke down in the dock as one of her alleged
victims described the mental anguish she suffers.
The trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of 58-year-old Marie Docherty - also
known as Sister Alphonso was halted briefly on Thursday after she buried her head in her
hands and started crying.
The court also heard another alleged victim describe how Sister Alphonso
struck her on the head with a heavy book - just days after the girl was treated in
hospital for a head injury.
Sister Alphonso faces 23 charges of treating children cruelly at Nazareth
House homes in Aberdeen and Midlothian.
Sister Alphonso broke down after listening to Anne Montgomery, a former
resident of the Nazareth House home in Lasswade.
Ms Montgomery spoke of being beaten by the nun till her shoulder and arm
were covered in bruises.
She also revealed she was terrified of open doors because she was afraid
Sister Alphonso would enter through them.
The court was cleared while one of her legal team tried to calm the nun.
Earlier the court heard Mrs Catherine Ennaaomaoui tell how at the age of
14 she fell off a swing and struck her head at Nazareth House in Aberdeen.
Mrs. Ennaaomaoui thought a priest gave her the Last rites, but she then
received hospital treatment and returned to the House.
She said a short time after coming out of hospital with a lump on her
head, Sister Alphonso came into her room and struck her on the other side of the head with
a heavy black book.
Mrs Ennaaomaoui said she was shocked because she had not done or said
anything.
She said she remembered Sister Alphonso saying she should apologize to
Sister Hildegard, but she did not know why.
Mrs. Ennaaomaoui arrived at Nazareth House at the age of 12 with her six
brothers and sisters after their parents' marriage broke up.
The witness said she was afraid of the nun who was in charge of her group
at Nazareth House, along with Sister Hildegard.
Mrs. Ennaaomaoui said she suffered emotional damage as a result of what
had happened to her as a child and had received psychiatric treatment since being asked by
the police to recall her experiences.
She broke down on the witness stand when Depute Fiscal Anne McDonald
asked what sort of effect giving evidence in court was having.
The trial continues.
|
