Nun tells abuse inquiry she would 'administer a slap' on children at orphanage
A nun has told an inquiry she slapped' children in her care at an orphanage but said she isnot aware' of beating a boy unconscious after he found her embracing another nun.
The 73-year-old was giving evidence to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry of her time at Smyllum Park orphanage in Lanark, South Lanarkshire, between 1969 and 1976.
The nun, who wishes to remain anonymous, was questioned over evidence of a resident at that time who said he was given a `proper hiding' after he saw her and another nun in an embrace in the boiler room.
The boy, who was aged around six or seven, said he was hit and kicked, had his hair singed by being held over an open flame on the boiler, and passed out before waking to find himself black and blue.
Colin MacAulay QC, counsel to the inquiry, asked the nun if this happened and she replied: `I'm not aware of it happening. I can only say what I remember. That incident has shocked me but I can't remember it happening.'
Mr MacAulay said: `Is it at all feasible that you would have forgotten an event where you we involved what seems would have been a serious attack on a young child?'
She replied `I don't think I would have done'', adding she was not leaving open the possibility she has blacked the memory out.
The resident told the inquiry he was then persecuted' by the nun who wouldhit us and slap us when were least expecting it' and also hit him with a cricket bat.
She denied the cricket bat incident and said she had `no recollection' of the other allegations.
Questioned if she used corporal punishment on the children at the home, which was run by the nuns of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and closed in the 1980s, she said: `I did administer a slap on the legs or slap on the hand but I wouldn't have done any corporal punishment.'
She said it was hard to know how to discipline the children' and nuns were encouraged to talk things through with them, but on occasions this was awaste of time'.
She said she saw her staff carrying out physical punishment, adding: `It wouldn't have been just willy nilly, there would have been some reason for it.'
Questioned on force-feeding and bed-wetting evidence, the nun said some children who did not eat their food at one meal would have it heated up for the next to encourage self-discipline but said she was `not aware' of children being force-fed.
She also told the inquiry there was an alarm system fitted to wake children up in the night when they wet the bed which was activated by urine but was aimed at `helping the child get up to the toilet'.
The inquiry, sitting in Edinburgh before Lady Smith, continues.