Siblings win right to sue ‘abuse’ home

A BROTHER and sister have been given the go-ahead to launch a £750,000 claim against an order of nuns accused of abusing them in residential care.

They allege they suffered abuse while in the care of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth.

Judge Lord Weir originally rejected their claim and accepted that lawyers could not identify some of the alleged abusers in the action.

That ruling has now been overturned by Lady Dorrian, Lord Woolman and Lord Malcolm, who said that the siblings can pursue their claim for compensation.

The pair claim they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse in July and August of 1974 at a former home run by the order.

The Edinburgh-born woman, known as B, said she was struck with a ruler as punishment for bed-wetting and was made to stand or sit naked as a child at the home. It was alleged that attempts were made to force-feed her when she did not eat and food was put in her ears.

Her brother, known as W, said he was also punished for bed-wetting and was forced to sit with a soiled sheet on his head.

He was also struck with a ruler and had food put in his ears.

Both claimed that they suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

The religious order had maintained that because of the passage of time a fair hearing could not take place.

Twelve nuns were at the home at the time, but only four are still alive

One of the sisters was later convicted of cruelty to children.

Giving the Inner House’s judgment Lord Malcolm wrote that Lord Weir had ‘erred’. He said: ‘They allege generalised abuse which would be reflected in the culture and ethos of the administration of the home.’