Compensation for care homes abuse

The claims relate to former Nazareth House children's homes

Victims of abuse at Nazareth House children's homes have been paid official compensation and more could follow, BBC Scotland has learned.

Eighteen residents of the former homes in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Kilmarnock have received awards of up to £7,500.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) compensated the former residents after a hearing last month.

They alleged they were abused, beaten or humiliated as children by some of the nuns who ran the homes.

Glasgow lawyer Cameron Fyfe hopes that compensation will eventually be paid to about 100 of his clients, who are now mostly in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

Mr Fyfe said the compensation awards ranged between £1,000 and £7,500.

He said: "It is a great boost to these clients because they feel they have been vindicated.

"I don't think they are interested in the compensation.

"But for a government authority, the CICA, to say to them: 'we accept you were abused, we accept you were assaulted and you should be compensated', that is a great boost to them."

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said another 24 people connected with Nazareth House homes would have their claims heard at appeals hearings in Glasgow in October.