No excuse for the abuse

Our front page story in last week’s paper about shocking child abuse in a Rutherglen kids’ home sparked outrage online last week.

Grandmother Theresa Ralston spoke out for the first time in 65 years about the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at Bellevue House, which was run by the Catholic Church, in the early 1950s.

The 69-year-old revealed how one nun in particular “terrorised” her when she was just a toddler.

Abuse spanning decades at Bellevue House has been investigated as part of the ongoing Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

After we shared Theresa’s shocking story on our Facebook page, several people shared their strong opinions.

Jaki Logan commented: “Quite scary how much you hear of these ‘religious’ figures who we are somehow taught to respect doing these unthinkable things.

“My mum went to a school run by nuns and even there they were horrible witches.”

Jill Iona Lynn wrote: “Awful. Poor kids, there’s no excuse for what they endured in these care homes.”

Sheena McGovern commented: “I went to convent school, it was so bad I had to get myself expelled by stealing and owning up so I could get to a local ‘normal’ school.

“Never would I put any of my own through that, ever!”

Meanwhile, readers have been kicking up a stink after reading our story about the dog fouling issue in Cairns Road, Cambuslang.

We told how resident Margaret Sloan, vice chair of Friends of Cambuslang Park, had complained to South Lanarkshire Council’s environmental health department about owners not cleaning up after their pets.

Margaret Brown commented: “This is a terrible, name and shame them if you know.”

Stephen Allan wrote: “Margaret has definitely highlighted an important issue.

“I picked up my daughter from after school yesterday in this street and the opposite side of the road was disgusting.

“Add to the fact that you need to walk round bins and numerous cars parked outside the church makes it difficult to navigate the mess.”