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Five Nuns Face 108 Charges Over Alleged Historic Child Abuse in Scotland
Five nuns in the UK are facing a total of 108 charges over alleged historic abuse of children at care homes in Scotland.
The allegations are said to date back several decades, with the alleged incidents mainly taking place between 1965 and 1982 at Nazareth House locations in Aberdeen and Bonnyrigg, Midlothian.
The five accused are Marie Docherty, 84; Mary Broderick, 84; Margaret McLafferty, 68; Kathleen McLean, 77; and Mary Doyle, 81.
Serious Allegations
The indictment contains several disturbing allegations against the women.
Docherty is accused of mistreating a boy by allegedly forcing him to eat spoiled food, hitting him with a wooden stick, making him stand while wearing soiled bedding and locking him inside a room.
She is also accused of allegedly using a hot iron on a teenage girl’s hand and repeatedly hitting her on the head and body.
Another allegation states that Docherty refused to give a girl food until she fainted.
The girl was also allegedly forced to have soap put in her mouth, which caused her to vomit. According to the charges, her head was then allegedly pushed into the vomit and she was ordered to eat it.
More Children Allegedly Abused
Other charges accuse Docherty, Broderick and Doyle of forcing some children to kiss a dead body.
The indictment also contains allegations that children were punched, kicked, hit and force-fed.
Some children were allegedly made to stand for periods while wearing dirty bedding or clothing.
The charges cover a number of alleged incidents involving children who were under the care of the institutions during the period in question.
Case Returns to Court
A preliminary hearing was held at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, August 31, before Lord Renucci.
Following the hearing, the judge scheduled another preliminary hearing for January 22, 2027.
The court has also provisionally reserved eight weeks for the trial, which is expected to begin in Glasgow on March 30, 2027.
The five accused women have previously pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Because the case is still before the court, the allegations have not been proven, and the accused remain entitled to due process.
The upcoming hearings are expected to determine how the case will proceed before the trial.
The allegations have drawn attention to the treatment of children who lived in care institutions decades ago and the lengthy process involved in bringing historic abuse cases before the courts.
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