Nun breaks down over witness' anguish

Sister Alphonso denies all the charges

A nun facing charges of cruelty to children broke down in the dock as one of her alleged victims described the mental anguish she suffers.

The trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of 58-year-old Marie Docherty - also known as Sister Alphonso - was halted briefly on Thursday after she buried her head in her hands and started crying.

The court also heard another alleged victim describe how Sister Alphonso struck her on the head with a heavy book - just days after the girl was treated in hospital for a head injury.

The charges

Marie Docherty faces 23 charges, all of which are denied

The charges date from 1965 to 1980

They include - forcing girls to kiss dead nuns

Punching, slapping and kicking girls

Forcing girls to wear soiled underwear

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks

Sister Alphonso faces 23 charges of treating children cruelly at Nazareth House homes in Aberdeen and Midlothian.

Sister Alphonso broke down after listening to Anne Montgomery, a former resident of the Nazareth House home in Lasswade.

Ms Montgomery spoke of being beaten by the nun till her shoulder and arm were covered in bruises.

She also revealed she was terrified of open doors because she was afraid Sister Alphonso would enter through them.

The court was cleared while one of her legal team tried to calm the nun.

Catherine Ennaaomaoui said the accused had hit her

Earlier the court heard Mrs Catherine Ennaaomaoui tell how at the age of 14 she fell off a swing and struck her head at Nazareth House in Aberdeen.

Mrs Ennaaomaoui thought a priest gave her the Last Rites, but she then received hospital treatment and returned to the House.

She said a short time after coming out of hospital with a lump on her head, Sister Alphonso came into her room and struck her on the other side of the head with a heavy black book.

Mrs Ennaaomaoui said she was shocked because she had not done or said anything.

She said she remembered Sister Alphonso saying she should apologise to Sister Hildegard, but she did not know why.

Nazareth House in Aberdeen

Mrs Ennaaomaoui arrived at Nazareth House at the age of 12 with her six brothers and sisters after their parents' marriage broke up.

The witness said she was afraid of the nun - who was in charge of her group at Nazareth House, along with Sister Hildegard.

Mrs Ennaaomaoui said she suffered emotional damage as a result of what had happened to her as a child and had received psychiatric treatment since being asked by the police to recall her experiences.

She broke down on the witness stand when Depute Fiscal Anne Macdonald asked what sort of effect giving evidence in court was having.

The trial continues.