Nun denies home was 'like a prison'

The accused denies running a home like a prison

A nun accused of cruelty has denied that a children's home was run like a prison.

Marie Docherty said the Nazareth House home in Midlothian was the exact opposite.

On her third day of evidence, she told Aberdeen Sheriff Court it had been an open house for neighbours and friends of the children.

The nun also denied an earlier claim from an alleged victim that she had been a schemer and a manipulator - and told of the strain the case had placed on her.

The accused, who was known as Sister Alphonso but now prefers Sister Marie, denies 21 charges of cruelty towards children over a 15-year period at Nazareth House homes in Aberdeen and Midlothian.

The charges

Marie Docherty faces 21 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

Giving evidence on Friday, she rejected allegations that she had gone into raging moods.

Docherty said she had shown affection towards the girls in her care and would kiss and cuddle the younger children.

But she never wanted to take the place of their parents, she told the court.

She did admit to sometimes tapping girls on the head with a hairbrush when she was brushing their hair and punishing one girl who had run away from the home by not talking to her all day.

The accused has also told the trial of the strain she has been under since she was first charged.

Marie Docherty: Facing a series of charges

She said the worst part had been when she was suspended from her job working with elderly people at a home in Aberdeen.

The old people had been her life and they had been very upset, she said.

Families of residents at the Nazareth House home for the elderly in Aberdeen had wanted to wage a campaign in her support, but she had asked them not to do so.

After the start of her trial she was diagnosed with a heart condition.

Asked by her counsel what she would like to do after the trial, Docherty broke down briefly and replied she would like to go back to working with elderly people.

She said she would like to stay in Aberdeen, but admitted she had lost a lot of her confidence.

The trial, which is in its fourth week, was adjourned until Monday.