Retired teacher convicted of 18 counts of abuse at Fornethy House

A retired teacher has been convicted of 18 counts of historical abuse of girls at a former residential school.

Patricia Robertson tormented youngsters during her time at Fornethy House in Angus.

The girls - sent there for supposed "short-term respite" from their homes - were force fed, assaulted, humiliated and left in tears.

One survivor told jurors: "I just wanted to curl up like a wee baby. I still do not understand how an adult could be like that."

Convicted of 18 charges

Robertson - now aged 77 - had denied the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

She accepted having a "strong voice" when sometimes dealing with the girls, but insisted she was not violent or bullied them.

The pensioner was convicted of a total of 18 charges of cruel and unnatural treatment of the youngsters.

The charges spanned between January 1969 and August 1984.

'It's a relief to be believed'

A large group of women affected by the abuse at Fornethy were in court for the verdict.

There were shouts of "Yes" by the women in attendance as the guilty verdicts were read out.

They also hugged and cheered as they left the court building together.

Kelly Burns was sent there in the late 80s and says countless women have campaigned for justice for decades.

She told Clyde 1: "I don't think I will ever get closure.

"It's a relief just to be believed. There's no records, no nothing - so this fight has been going on for a very long time.

"The jury believed us - believed the women, believed it happened.

"It was emotional for every single woman in that courtroom. I know you're not supposed to show emotion in court, but we just couldn't hold back.

"You know your own story, and it's hard when you listen to all the other women who went through similar things to what you did.

"It was worse because she had no emotion or her face, no remorse. Even when she was found guilty, there was nothing there."

Tales of abuse

Fornethy had been run by the former Glasgow Corporation, now known as Glasgow City Council.

It was said to offer "convalescent care" for girls aged between five and 12 for up to eight weeks at a time.

But, the horrors of what went on there were revealed during harrowing accounts at the three-week trial.

One now woman recalled a "Miss Robertson", who she believed was a teacher.

She then told how she was force-fed semolina, which she had been struggling to swallow.

The woman alleged she was also hit during a latter stay at Fornethy while helping scrub floors.

She was pulled back and forward "like a rag doll" before ending up on the floor on her knees.

The woman recalled: "I just wanted my mum." She said she got beaten for "trying to do a good job".

Another survivor described the atmosphere at Fornethy as being "scary, cold, unloved".

Robertson targeted one youngster was slapped, punched and had a blackboard duster hurled at her.

One child was put over Robertson's knee and slapped on the bare buttocks.

'Watershed moment'

Laura Connor from the Life Impact Team at Thompsons Solicitors, which represents over 200 survivors, said: “This is a watershed moment for our clients and all those who suffered at Fornethy House. It has taken immense courage to come forward, and we admire the strength and dignity they have shown throughout this process.

“We have heard them in court and also heard of the positive impact their testimony has had on other survivors. This conviction is a significant milestone in a long fight for truth and accountability.

“Our clients have spoken of their relief at finally being heard and believed, which is one of the most important points to come out of this – those who gave evidence in court spoke on behalf of so many others.

"We now turn our focus to the civil courts and on securing the justice and compensation that many will be entitled to.”

'All we found was fear'

In a statement released through their solicitors Digby Brown, a group of Fornethy House survivors said: “As children we were promised a summer of fun at Fornethy House, but all we found was fear.

“It was supposed to be a place of care, but we were subjected to cruelty which continues to have a profound impact on our lives.

“Today’s verdict isn’t just about punishing those responsible for inflicting physical, mental and emotional abuse on us as children – it’s recognition we didn’t deserve to be treated that way.

“It has been a long hard battle to get to this point, and we thank everyone who has supported us but now we wish for our privacy to be respected as we process these outcomes.”

'Justice has been served'

Digby Brown Solicitors confirmed they are supporting a number of survivors with a separate legal claim.

A spokesperson said: “The nature of child abuse is it buys the silence of the victim.

“The bravery of those women who spoke out and helped ensure the conviction today cannot be understated with that in mind.

“Without them, this verdict would not have been possible.

“Fornethy House was meant to help vulnerable children by providing them with safety. Instead, it subjected them to a sadistic and brutal regime that has altered lives.

“Today will come as a welcome relief to the survivors that they have been heard and believed.

“Justice has been served, and we await the sentencing.”

Sentence was deferred on the first offender until December at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Lord Colbeck granted her bail meantime.

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