School Run by Nuns Was 'Worse Than Jail'

The Gazette
May 2, 2013

http://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2013/05/02/455824-school-run-by-nuns-was-worse-than-jail/

A GRANDMOTHER who was sent to Dalbeth Approved School in Bishopton aged 13 has told a jury "it was a hellhole worse than prison".

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that 57-year-old Josephine Hanlon was sent to the school by a court in 1970 because she was outwith parental control.

In evidence she alleged that one of the nuns Mother Martin and a fellow nun forced her to drink some kind of liquid.

Miss Hanlon told the jury: "Mother Martin and another nun poured something liquid down my throat and I went to sleep. That happened more than once."

The witness, who has convictions for crime of dishonesty and assault, also said that on one occasion Mother Martin and two other nuns dragged her to a punishment room and left her there for two or three days without anything to eat."

Defence QC Ronnie Clancy, representing Miss Kenny, put it to Miss Hanlon: "All the nuns at the school were caring individuals and never raised a hand to the pupils," and she replied: "Rubbish."

Robert Anthony QC, representing Miss Reville, told Miss Hanlon that she was describing Dalbeth as if it were a prison and she replied: "I would say prison is better."

She admitted to the court that she had been in jail.

Mr Anthony told her that there had been no corporal punishment at Dalbeth and she replied: "I disagree."

The QC then said: "What you have told the ladies and gentlemen of the jury about Mother Martin is untrue," and Miss Hanlon replied: "No, it's not untrue."

Miss Hanlon was then asked by depute fiscal Douglas Hamilton how she would described the approved school and replied: "A hellhole worse than prison."

Earlier the trial heard how a mum-of-two also claimed she was tortured and kept in a cupboard for two days by nuns after it was revealed she had been sent there for stealing two bras from Woolworths.

Last Thursday (April 25) at Paisley Sheriff Court, Catherine Logan, 57, told the jury that three years ago she was taken back to Dalbeath Approved School in Bishopton for the first time in 41 years.

She was giving evidence for a second day at the trial of Anne Kenny, 79, who faces four charges of assault and Agnes Reville, 77, who is accused of five charges of assault.

The accusations involve a total of eight girls. In earlier evidence Mrs Logan identified Kenny as Mother Rosari and Reville as Mother Martin - both nuns at the school at the time.

She told the court that she had been dragged into the cupboard on about a dozen occasions for alleged misbehaviour.

But Mrs Logan said that it was only on one occasion that she was beaten with a carpet and tied to piping in the cupboard and left for two days.

She was asked by depute fiscal Douglas Hamilton: "Did anyone offer you food?" and she replied: "No, nothing."

The prosecutor then asked: "Did anyone come to see if you were alright?" and Mrs Logan said: "Nope."

She was then asked if she had tried to escape and untie herself and replied: "No, I couldn't move."

In court Mrs Logan claimed that it was Mother Rosari who had beaten her and locked her in the cupboard.

The jury of eight woman and seven men were also told by Mrs Logan that she was hit with a riding crop after she ran away to see a T-Rex.

In evidence Mrs Logan was asked how the alleged assault with the riding crop had come about and she said she had been taken to Mother Rosari's office and had spat on her and then was hit. Both nuns deny all the charges against them.

The trial before Sheriff Susan Sinclair continues.