Survivor 1 Mrs B

Survivor 1 Mrs B

was resident in the second defenders' home at Nazareth House, Cardonald, between 1966, when she was three years old, and 1979, when she was 16 years old. Her date of birth is 6 January 1963; consequently she attained majority on 6 January 1981, and the basic three-year limitation period laid down in section 17 accordingly expired on 6 January 1984, some 16 years before her action was raised. Mrs A B Mrs B was a resident at Nazareth House, Cardonald, from about 1966, when she was three years old, to about 1979, when she was sixteen. Initially she was in the nursery section , but subsequently she was placed in the green group, along with her two older sisters; the girls were separated from their brother. During her time in Nazareth House Mrs B was under the charge of a series of nuns, namely Sister Do, Sister Ca, Sister Cu, Sister J, Sister J S and Sister B. A carer named M K was also responsible for her for much of her childhood. Mrs B avers that children in Nazareth House, including her, were regularly subjected to assaults and cruel punishments. The assaults regularly had no reason. Details are given of a number of assaults on Mrs B. These relate particularly to Sister Ca, who had a club foot and placed that on children to prevent them from escaping while she assaulted them. Sister Ca also punished Mrs B by making her kneel on tiles with her arms above her head or with her arms stretched out in front of her, and force fed her. Force feeding continued after a child had vomited, and was sometimes followed by assaults in full view of everyone in the dining hall. Mrs B avers that she was subjected to that treatment on several occasions. Sister Ca also punished her by putting carbolic soap in her mouth. Particulars are given of a number of specific assaults on the pursuer by Sister Cu, Sister J S and Sister B. The assaults are averred to have included kicking and punching. On one occasion Mrs B avers that she was knocked unconscious when Sister B pushed her against a wall; when she recovered consciousness Sister B was on top of her, battering her head against the floor. In addition to the averments relating to repeated assaults, Mrs B avers that she and other children in Nazareth House were regularly punished for bedwetting. She also makes allegations about poor food and poor personal care. On the basis of those averments of fact, she states that the defenders failed in their duty to take adequate care for the safety and welfare of the children resident in Nazareth House, including her. She alleges breach of the defenders' duties not to assault children and not to sanction or use excessive, cruel and unusual punishments. She also alleges a series of failures in the defenders' supervision of Nazareth House. In this connection various particular duties are averred; these include caring for and nurturing the children in the home, serving adequate food, providing adequate personal care, taking reasonable care to see that children were not humiliated and ridiculed, and encouraging family relationships where possible. As a result of those breaches of duty it is said that Mrs B suffered loss, injury and damage. An alternative statutory case is made under the Children's Homes (Scotland) Regulations 1959. This is broadly similar to be case made by Mrs W. Mrs B said that she felt humiliated and degraded as a result of her treatment in Nazareth House, and experienced fear and distress when she witnessed assaults on other children. She said that she has no confidence in herself, and suffered psychologically for many years. It is said that she has suffered intrusive thoughts about her experiences and has made conscious attempts to avoid such thoughts. As in the case of Mrs W, it is said that Mrs B's symptoms are similar to PTSD symptoms, and fulfil the criteria for PTSD. She said that she has suffered from bulimia and had a breakdown in 1996. She has been prescribed Prozac and Valium. She does not feel safe outside her home, and has difficulty functioning in any area of life outwith her home. Her estranged husband and children have to go to the shops for her, and she has a very poor quality of life. She has had difficulties in forming relationships, and has separated from her husband. She has difficulty in relating to her children. She suffers from anxiety, in particular that she may wet the bed, and that causes her practical difficulties. She said that she has difficulty sleeping and concentrating. She was intellectually able to undertake further education, but instead had only been employed as a machinist, cleaner and meat packer.

STOP THE PAIN & HEARTACHE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE OUR ADULT'S OF TOMORROW OF OUR COUNTRIES