01 September 2026 , 13:04
488
0
Five nuns accused of historic abuse against several children are set to face a further hearing.
Marie Docherty, 84, Mary Broderick, 84, Margaret McLafferty, 68, Kathleen McLean, 77, and Mary Doyle, 81, are named in an indictment containing 108 charges.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place mainly at Nazareth House locations in Aberdeen and Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, between 1965 and 1982.
The indictment includes an allegation that Docherty forced a boy to eat spoiled food, struck him with a wooden stick, made him stand while wearing soiled bedding and locked him in a room.
Another charge alleges that Docherty pressed a hot iron onto a teenage girl’s hand, repeatedly struck her on the head and body and forced her to lie in bed.
Docherty allegedly refused to give another girl food, causing her to faint, according to the indictment.
The same girl allegedly had soap forced into her mouth, causing her to vomit. Her head was then allegedly pushed into the vomit and she was told to eat it.
Other charges allege that Docherty, Broderick and Doyle forced some children to kiss a corpse.
The indictment also contains allegations that children were punched, struck, kicked, force-fed and made to stand while wearing soiled bedding or clothing, among other allegations.
A preliminary hearing took place at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday before Lord Renucci, who scheduled a further preliminary hearing for January 22, 2027.
The court has provisionally set aside eight weeks for a trial beginning on March 30, 2027, in Glasgow.
The accused have previously entered pleas of not guilty.
Technology & Business Editor