Two nuns admit to prolonged abuse at Nazareth House
Two nuns have admitted to conducting a six-year campaign of abuse at a children's home in Glasgow.
Marie O'Gorman, aged 79, and Mary McGuire, aged 68, targeted seven vulnerable children under their care at Nazareth House located in Glasgow's Cardonald area.
Glasgow Sheriff Court was informed that the offences, which included assaults with a belt and a slipper, occurred between 1975 and 1981.
Both women were granted bail and are scheduled for sentencing next month.
Details of abuse by Marie O'Gorman
O'Gorman began her service with the Sisters of Nazareth congregation in 1963.
Her first victim was a boy aged between four and eight who pushed O'Gorman after she upset his sister.
The court heard that O'Gorman, described as a "disciplinarian" of the home, struck the boy on his bare buttocks using a leather harness.
The child was left bloodied and cried out for help following the attack, which took place between 1975 and 1979.
O'Gorman, who currently resides in Ireland, was also abusive towards the same boy while he was in a bath.
Victim felt 'degraded'
The boy's sister, aged between three and seven at the time, was hit on the body by O'Gorman and also struck on the buttocks with a slipper.
The victim recalled that, if she wet the bed, O'Gorman would take her to the bathroom, force her to stand in a freezing bath and pour cold water on her.
Procurator fiscal Lauren Aitchison stated this in court.
The same victim was then made to wear a nappy in front of other children, which made her feel "degraded."
A second girl, approximately 10 or 11 years old, was struck on the hand with a leather belt by O'Gorman for not eating her vegetables.
The victim recalled crying after the incident and subsequently ate all her meals.
Mary McGuire's offences
McGuire joined the congregation in 1975 and worked at Nazareth House between 1978 and 1981.
Her first victim was a 10-year-old girl who was struck on the body with a leather belt for "being cheeky." The buckle hit her eye, causing a bruise.
The same girl recalled being hit on the leg with McGuire's hand after losing a sandal during a trip to Girvan, South Ayrshire.
McGuire's second victim was a boy aged between seven and 10 when she hit him with a belt in front of other children.
She then placed the boy over her knee and smacked him five times, leaving him in tears.
The boy's brother was also repeatedly struck by McGuire between the ages of eight and 11.
Hairbrush attack
McGuire, from Lochore, Fife, later shouted at a 16-year-old girl for misbehaving in a chapel.
She said she would teach her not to do it again.
Procurator fiscal Aitchison told the court that McGuire took a hairbrush and struck the girl on the back of the head, causing her to cry and become fearful.
The final victim initially recalled McGuire being kind when she moved to the home.
However, the girl, aged between five and six at the time, said McGuire struck her again with a leather belt and described the sensation as "nippy."
Aftermath and sentencing
The court heard that McGuire left the nunnery after 1981 and has since spent the last 40 years working as a care worker.
McGuire pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering and one assault.
O'Gorman admitted one charge of causing unnecessary suffering and three assaults.
Judge Louise Arrol KC deferred sentencing until next month pending background reports.
