Nuns’ victims lying to get payouts, witnesses claim

CARE home ‘survivors’ making abuse claims are ‘crucifying the truth’ and lying to get compensation payouts, an inquiry heard yesterday.

In recent weeks the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has heard countless horrific accounts of historic physical and sexual abuse at the now closed Smyllum Park home in Lanark.

Others have recalled Satanic abuse and said a child may have died after being left naked in the rain as punishment.

Earlier this week a former resident compared the nuns who ran the Catholic institution to Nazi concentration camp commandants.

But yesterday two anonymous ex-residents denied the claims of abuse.

One said he was ‘extremely well treated’ during his time there between 1957 – when he was eight-years-old – and 1964 along with five of his siblings.

The witness – referred to only as ‘Patrick’ – told the inquiry before Lady Smith that others were fabricating their tales because compensation has ‘raised its ugly head’.

Among his only complaints over his time at the home was the lumpy porridge.

He said transcripts from other witnesses contain ‘madeup stories’, explaining: ‘I saw nothing of this sort in my seven years at the home.

‘Why did these people wait in some cases 40 years before coming forward with the tales we’re hearing about now?’

A second anonymous witness referred to only as ‘Rondo’ was at Smyllum from 1957 – when he was seven – until 1964.

He said: ‘The truth has been crucified along with the Daughters of Charity and staff who worked at Smyllum Park.

‘I never saw any children ever being kicked or punched and constantly being hit every day. Total nonsense.’

Discussing the accusers he said: ‘They think they’re going to get money here.’

The inquiry continues.