Nuns cleared of abuse
Hugs for supporters as five-year ordeal is ended
TWO nuns have been cleared of physically abusing six girls at an approved school more than 40 years ago.
Anne Kenney, 79, and Agnes Reville, 77, said they never inflicted corporal punishment on any of the girls as it was against their religious order’s teachings.
After the not guilty verdicts at Paisley Sheriff Court, the nuns hugged their supporters. The nuns, who have had the case hanging over them for five years, declined to comment as they left.
They had said the only punishment for bad behaviour at Dalbeth Approved School at Bishopton, Renfrewshire, was to be put in a detention room. Any girl sent there, they said, was monitored and given food and water.
Other former pupils told the court how Ms Kenney, then known as Mother Rosaria, and Ms Reville, then known as Mother Martin, had turned their lives around.
However, six of the former inmates told a very different story.
They claimed they were dragged to the detention room and spoke of being beaten with a riding whip and a carpet beater. One alleged victim, Catherine Logan, now 57, claimed nuns from the school abused her during her time there between 1969 and 1971.
Mrs Logan claimed she was hit
DC Lesley McAuley, in charge of investigating the allegations, was caught wearing a No Surrender sticker
12 or 13 times – including with a riding crop – by Mother Rosaria, now known as Sister Rosaria.
She said she was put in a punishment room, tied to a pipe and spent days without food or water.
Kathleen Humphries, 56, another pupil, said she had been hit repeatedly with a carpet beater by Mother Rosaria in her office. She also claimed she was shut in a cupboard in Mother Rosaria’s office twice, on one occasion for three or four hours.
Elizabeth Howell, 58, said Mother Rosaria, head of the school, struck her on the body and locked her in a toilet for a week.
Three women – Barbara Young, 58, Lucille Cope, 57, and Patricia Timothy, 57 – said they were assaulted by Mother Martin, who is now known as Sister Agnes.
Ms Young claimed Mother Martin dug her nails into her, pulled her hair and left her in a room without food. Ms Cope said she was slapped and punched on the head, body and legs. Ms Timothy said she was hit on the face by Mother Martin and knocked over.
But the jury did not believe their stories.
The court had heard Detective Constable Lesley McAuley, the policewoman in charge of investi- gating the claims of abuse by the nuns, was caught wearing a “‘No Surrender” sticker on her uniform at a Rangers FC match.
The jury heard DC McAuley, who drives a blue car with an RFC number plate, is also facing assault charges, including allegations of a racist attack.
The trial heard that during the investigation DC McAuley gave phone numbers of alleged victims to other alleged victims and encouraged them to see lawyers to seek compensation.
This behaviour was described by another officer, DC Moira Fyffe, who was involved in the investigation , as “highly unprofessional”.
Defence c o unsel Rober t Anthony, representing Agnes Reville, said it was like “putting a fox in charge of a henhouse”.