How Could You? Hall of Shame-Scotland-Lanark Orphanage-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Scotland, a “six-year-old boy died 10 days after he was beaten by a nun at an orphanage, a child abuse inquiry has heard.”

“A witness, who cannot be named, told the inquiry his friend was kicked on the body and head by the Catholic sister.

He was giving evidence at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry which began the second phase of its hearings in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

It is hearing evidence about institutions run by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.

The man said he was sexually abused by a nun and another member of staff and beaten for bed-wetting and not eating his food at the Smyllum Park orphanage in Lanark.

The witness entered the orphanage in 1959 when he was aged around two, along with three brothers and a sister.

He said beatings were routine at the institution and that on one occasion when he was around six his friend was beaten after playing with a match and accidentally burning his hand.

He said: “It was unfortunate but at that time the sister came around the corner and said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and I said, ‘He burned my hand’ and she just grabbed him and started hitting him and punching him.

“He was on the floor and she was kicking him on his body and his head.

“I said, ‘Please Sister, please don’t hurt him’.

“She stopped when I laid on top of him.”

He said he next saw his friend in the sick room and the inquiry heard the boy was in hospital for around 10 days and then died.

The orphanage was home to more than 10,000 children between opening in 1864 and closing in 1981.

More than 60 residential institutions, including several top private schools, are being investigated by the inquiry, chaired by Lady Smith.

John Scott QC, senior counsel for In Care Abuse Survivors (Incas), said the name Smyllum will be “forever associated with suffering”.

Solicitor Gregor Rolfe, counsel for the Daughters of Charity, reiterated the apology made by the religious order at the conclusion of the first phase of the inquiry.”

Boy died after beating by nun in Lanark orphanage, abuse inquiry is told

[Express 11/28/17 by David Scott]

REFORM Puzzle Piece