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 on an indictment containing 108 charges.
Allegations Span 17 Years
The charges span 17 years, with the alleged offences 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.
Specific Allegations Detailed
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.
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, according to the charges.
Further Hearings Scheduled
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 and force-fed, 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.
