Couple Found Guilty of 'Unspeakable' Abuse Against Foster Children in Glasgow
A couple in their seventies and eighties has been convicted of subjecting young foster children to what a sheriff described as "the most unspeakable abuse" at a home in Glasgow, with victims forced into chicken coops and attacked by geese.
Horrific Treatment of Vulnerable Children
Douglas Daniel, 80, and Barbara Daniel, 75, were found guilty on six charges of cruel and unnatural treatment of children following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The abuse occurred between 1986 and 1991 at their home in Parkhead, Glasgow, where they fostered approximately 100 children during that period.
The court heard disturbing evidence about the systematic mistreatment of children aged between four and fourteen. One particularly harrowing incident involved a four-year-old girl who was locked inside a chicken coop at the back of the property while her sister tried desperately to rescue her.
Geese Attacks and Forced Feeding
Prosecutor Ryan Watson presented evidence detailing how Barbara Daniel would force children to stand with geese as punishment. "The geese would attack you," one now 53-year-old victim testified. "She would put you in front of the geese. The geese could tell you were scared of them and attack you."
Another victim described being made to eat food she disliked, including geese eggs, as punishment for speaking back to the Daniels. If she refused, she would be put outside where geese were running free. The same woman recalled being served cow's tongue intended for ferrets during a Sunday roast, describing it as "the most disgusting thing she ever seen" with visible taste buds.
Further Degrading Treatment
The abuse extended beyond animal-related torment. One woman testified about being forced to bathe outside in water contaminated by birds. "Barbara would push her in and laugh at her," Mr Watson told the court. "She was only allowed to come out when Barbara had her fun."
Additional allegations included Douglas Daniel slapping one of the girls and ordering a victim to strip naked to check for injuries. The prosecutor emphasized that the children received no compassion or care from the couple who were supposed to provide a safe home.
Courtroom Condemnation and Deferred Sentencing
Sheriff Louise Arrol KC delivered a powerful condemnation of the couple's actions, stating: "Your youngest victim was just four years old. They were vulnerable children who were removed from their caregivers and taken to a place of safety which was supposed to be you. Instead, this wasn't anything short of a house of horrors."
The sheriff commended the victims for coming forward to relive their trauma, noting that justice had finally caught up with the perpetrators. She also highlighted that Douglas Daniel had a previous criminal record for dishonesty despite being trusted with children.
Sentence has been deferred until March pending background reports, with the Daniels remaining on bail in the interim period. The case has exposed shocking failures in the foster care system of the late 1980s and highlighted the lasting trauma experienced by victims of childhood abuse.
