Nuns’ trial likened to television drama

A LAWYER defending a nun accused of hitting teenage girls in her care over 40 years ago has likened the trial to court-based TV shows.

Robert Anthony, QC, defending Agnes Reville, 77, told the seven men and eight women of the jury that the case outshines BBC drama Silk and American shows Petrocelli and Perry Mason.

Reville and co-accused Anne Kenny, 79, each deny assaulting three girls at Dalbeth Approved School in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, between 1969 and 1971.

In his closing speech to the jury at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday, Mr Anthony said: “Those shows are scripted to make interesting television.

“But if I had to script a show I couldn’t have done better than this. We had surprise witnesses not coming forward until after the case started, huge lists of the complainers’ previous convictions, and allegations from people who didn’t come forward until after the head of the hen house DC McAuley got involved.”

Reville, who is known as Mother Martin and lives in Newcastle, denies hitting Lucille Kerr on the legs with a wooden stick and hands with a wooden ruler.

Kenny, who is known as Mother Rosaria and lives in Manchester, denies locking Elizabeth Howell in a toilet for a week against her will, pushing her and pulling her.

The trial continues.