Two former nuns who admitted physically abusing young children at a Scottish orphanage have avoided custodial sentences.
Marie O’Gorman and Mary McGuire admitted targeting seven children in their care at Nazareth House between 1975 and 1981, with some victims as young as three.
Both appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday for sentencing, having pleaded guilty in February to various charges including what a sheriff described as “violent” attacks. They hit children with belts, a hairbrush and a slipper.
Sheriff Louise Arrol KC said that Nazareth House was supposed to be a place of safety, security and comfort but did not provide this.
The Daily Record reports: O’Gorman, who was known as Sister Mary Aelred to the children, entered the congregation of Sisters of Nazareth in 1963, was was tasked with looking after children in groups of 10 to 12.
During this time, she abused three children who were aged between three and 11 years old.
The court heard how she repeatedly struck the young children with items such as a harness, slipper and belt.
O’Gorman targeted one particular child who was forced to stand in a cold bath and poured water over her head if she had wet the bed.
She then humiliated the child further by forcing her to wear a nappy while walking around in front of others. The nun also abused a second child while he was in the bath.
McGuire, who entered the congregation in 1975, was known as Sister Maria Bernadette to the children.
She admitted abusing five children, aged between five and 12, by striking them with items including a slipper, a leather belt and a wooden hairbrush.
In one brutal attack, a child was injured after the belt buckle struck her eye and left her with a bruise.
Both nuns were made subject to probation orders on Wednesday, March 25.
McGuire, of Fife, was placed under supervision for two years and ordered to perform 225 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months.
O’Gorman, of Dublin, was also placed under supervision for the same period.
Both women were ordered to pay £1000 compensation to each of their victims.
This is the latest case of historic abuse involving nuns from the Sisters of Nazareth.