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September 28, 2000
January 7, 2001 |
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United Kingdom: Scotland
Tuesday
August 22, 2000
18:18 GMT
NUN 'VICTIM' TELLS OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
THE TRAIL OF A NUN FACING CHARGES OF CHILD CRUELTY has been told that one girl she
allegedly abused felt so worthless she tried to commit suicide.
Agnes Fowler, a former resident of Roman Catholic children's home
Nazareth House in Aberdeen, said she had been terrified of the accused.
Mrs. Fowler, 45, told the Aberdeen Sheriff Court trail that the nun was
responsible for driving her to make two suicide attempts.
She said she had been forced into cold baths when suffering from
epileptic fits at the home where she lived from 1965 to 1971.
Mrs. Fowler said Sster Alphonso labelled her fits as "attention-seeking"
and encouraged other girls at the home to make fun of her.
She added: "You were constantly aware that something was going to
happen."
"If you didn't do what you were told - or even if you did do what you
were told - if Sister Alphonso was in a bad mood, whichever child
happened to be in her road, they got a punching."
Mrs. Fowler, who was born with a hole in the heart and made several
attempts to run away from the home, said she never told anyone about the
alleged abuse because "who was going to believe a child over a nun?"
But under cross-examination by defence advocate Paul Cullen QC, the
witness admitted that in recent years she had sent Sister Alphonso a
Christmas card thanking her for her friendship.
She also admitted hugging the nun in public, voluntarily seeking out her
company and asking her for a job.
The trial continues.
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