Law lords dismiss care home case

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Two former residents of a Glasgow children's home have lost their legal bid for compensation over claims that they were abused by nuns.

Five law lords said the women had left it too late to bring the case over alleged events at Nazareth House in Cardonald in the 1960s and 1970s.

The ruling upheld a judgement at the Court of Session last year that the claims were time barred.

It has also ended potential action from about 450 people.

Two women and a man originally launched the claims, saying they were beaten and abused by nuns belonging to the Poor Sisters of Nazareth.

Unfortunately this means we can proceed no further with most of the historical child abuse cases we are handling Cameron Fyfe, Solicitor The religious order denied any abuse at the children's home which no longer exists.

Both women appealed to the House of Lords after last year's ruling at the Court of Session.

But the Law Lords ruled that Lord Drummond Young was correct that it was too late to hold a fair trial.

Lord Hope of Craighead, who gave the lead judgment, said the allegations were grave and there were several hundred others seeking compensation against the order.

He said: "The way the issue of time bar is disposed of in their cases is likely to affect the many others that remain in the pipeline."

'Mass of evidence'

Lord Hope said he agreed with Lord Drummond Young's conclusion that the prejudice caused to the nuns by the lapse of time in raising the proceedings, including the loss of evidence, was a sufficient reason for not allowing the actions to go ahead.

The women's solicitor, Cameron Fyfe, said the judgment could have implications for others who claimed to have been abused as children. Cameron Fyfe represented many of the former residents

"The clients are understandably disappointed by this decision," he said.

"Unfortunately this means we can proceed no further with most of the historical child abuse cases we are handling.

"We have a mass of evidence to support the clients' allegations of abuse, but the time bar problem prevents us from proceeding to a final hearing to prove these allegations."

In 2006, compensation totalling £23,000 was awarded to 16 former residents of Nazareth House orphanages across Scotland.

The payouts followed compensation hearings involving people who were at the homes in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Kilmarnock.

Last year a similar group also received cash awards - ranging between £1,000 and £2,600 - from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).