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| Child abuse inquiry says orphanages were places of 'threat and abuse' | Child abuse inquiry says orphanages were places of 'threat and abuse' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Children at Smyllum Park orphanage were sexually abused and beaten with leather straps, hairbrushes and crucifixes, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has found. | Children at Smyllum Park orphanage were sexually abused and beaten with leather straps, hairbrushes and crucifixes, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has found. |
| Nuns belonging to the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul ran the Catholic Children's home near Lanark, as well as Bellevue House, Rutherglen. | Nuns belonging to the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul ran the Catholic Children's home near Lanark, as well as Bellevue House, Rutherglen. |
| Lady Smith, who is chairing the inquiry, has published a report on evidence heard during the case study. | Lady Smith, who is chairing the inquiry, has published a report on evidence heard during the case study. |
| She said the homes were places of fear, threat, and excessive discipline. | She said the homes were places of fear, threat, and excessive discipline. |
| The judge said emotional, physical and sexual abuse took place. | The judge said emotional, physical and sexual abuse took place. |
| The children found "no love, no compassion, no dignity and no comfort," she said. | The children found "no love, no compassion, no dignity and no comfort," she said. |
| What is the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry? | |
| The inquiry was set up in October 2015 to look at the historical abuse of children in care across Scotland. | The inquiry was set up in October 2015 to look at the historical abuse of children in care across Scotland. |
| It is currently in the process of looking at allegations of physical and sexual abuse at 86 institutions, including former children's homes and leading boarding schools. | It is currently in the process of looking at allegations of physical and sexual abuse at 86 institutions, including former children's homes and leading boarding schools. |
| The inquiry, which has cost £15.67m so far, was originally scheduled to end next year but the Scottish government has since said it can take as long as it needs. | The inquiry, which has cost £15.67m so far, was originally scheduled to end next year but the Scottish government has since said it can take as long as it needs. |
| From the end of November last year, the child abuse inquiry heard case study evidence over 20 days about the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. | |
| A total of 54 witnesses told of their experiences at Smyllum Park, which closed in 1981, and Bellevue House, which closed in 1961, and 21 written statements were submitted. | A total of 54 witnesses told of their experiences at Smyllum Park, which closed in 1981, and Bellevue House, which closed in 1961, and 21 written statements were submitted. |
| What did the inquiry report say? | |
| Lady Smith's interim report into the Smyllum and BelleVue case studies concluded: | |
| The report names Charlie Forsyth, a former Smyllum resident who went on to work in the home, as someone who physically and emotionally abused children. | |
| Forsyth, who is now dead, was said to have given out violent, angry beatings and called the children demeaning. | |
| It was said that he had complete autonomy. | |
| Lady Smith's report also highlights the case of Samuel Carr, a child in Smyllum, who died aged six as a result of contracting a severe and vicious E. coli infection after contact with a rat. | |
| He was malnourished despite having been in Smyllum for a significant time. | |
| He had received a severe beating from a Sister not long before his death, the report says. | |
| Francis McColl, was 13 when he died in Smyllum after an accident in which he was hit by a golf club when it was being swung. | |
| Patricia Meenan died aged 12 when she was hit by a car when she was running away from Smyllum to go back to Glasgow. | |
| Lady Smith's said she would take her findings into account when she analysed all the evidence gathered by the inquiry and decides what recommendations to make within the final report. | |
| The victims have waited years by David Cowan BBC Scotland news | |
| Children were abused - three words from Lady Smith which will mean everything to former residents from the two homes. | |
| For years they've alleged they were victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse - and now the chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has said she believes them. | |
| Lady Smith described Smyllum Park and Bellevue House as places of fear, where many children found no love, no compassion, no dignity and no comfort. | |
| For some, she said, being hit was a normal aspect of daily life. | |
| The order which ran the homes, the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul have repeated their apology to anyone who suffered abuse in their care. | |
| Smyllum and Bellevue complaints in numbers | |
| 20,000 - Number of children housed by the Daughters of Charity in Scotland between 1864 and 1999 | |
| 11,601 - Number of children housed in Smyllum from its opening in 1864 to its closure in 1981 | |
| 4,748 - Number of children accommodated in Smyllum from 1930 until its closure in 1981 | |
| 6,585 - Number of children accommodated in Bellevue from its opening in 1912 to its closure in 1961 | |
| 121 - Number of complaints of alleged historical abuse at Smyllum made to the Order between 1998 and 2002 That's 37 complaints against individual sisters, 23 complaints against lay staff, four complaints against priests and two complaints against scout leaders) | |
| 26 - Number of complaints of alleged abuse at Bellevue made to the Order between 1998 and 2002 (That includes 18 complaints against individual sisters and five complaints against lay staff) | |
| 99 - Number of civil actions raised against the Order in relation to Smyllum | |
| 18 - Number of civil actions raised against the Order in relation to Bellevue | |
| A statement from the Daughters of Charity said: "Lady Smith's findings describe events and practices which are totally out of keeping with the fundamental values which underpin our life and mission and we are committed to giving this report our utmost attention. | |
| "We most sincerely offer our heartfelt apology to anyone who suffered any form of abuse whilst in our care." |