IT is with special interest that I've been following the recent trial of Marie Docherty, aka Sister Alphonso. As a child I was in the care of the Sisters of Nazareth in Aberdeen, between 1972-77. The letters published from David Harris and Shirley M Ashton had me nodding in agreement.
I understand Paul Cullen, Marie Docherty's QC, stated ''She is now clear''. This is typical of the way the matter has been dealt with. I'm not a legal expert but I understand when the Sheriff admonished Marie Docherty on age and health grounds it did not take away or lessen the guilty conviction. Mr Cullen should retract his statement.
Furthermore, Marie Docherty may have a medical condition that allowed the Sheriff to conclude that a custodial sentence would be inappropriate. However, many of those giving witness and those like me who were not in Marie Docherty's care but that of other nuns using similar methods of brutality are still suffering because of the legacy left by the years of abuse in Nazareth House.
Perhaps, as Bishop Conti of Aberdeen has said in regard to this matter, the Catholic Church is autonomous and answerable to no-one. This appears to be reflected in the Sheriff's decision to admonish. To me this would say the Catholic Church is above the law and those within its walls are free to abuse.
Would it be too contrite of the Catholic Church in Scotland to follow the example of the Australian Catholic Church in relation to Nazareth House there and acknowledge that a wrong has been done? The victims in this matter need a clear message from the Church to aid them on the road to recovery from abuse.
Chris Daly,
47 Hamilton Road,
Cambuslang.
October 1.
CHILDREN do not think like adults and are only concerned with the present. Accordingly when they are happy they imagine that this state will continue for ever. And likewise when they are sad they can envisage no change in their circumstances. How then can we view the treatment meted out to them by Sister Marie?
To suggest as John Macleod does that she behaved in accordance with the norms of the time is absurd. Anyone not seeking to be controversial could see from a transcript of a trial that she was a bully, a sadist, and a child torturer who derived pleasure from making her charges as miserable as possible. Each day must have seemed like an eternity and many of her victims must have been scarred for life by their experiences.
To admonish such a person found guilty of such serious charges is a travesty of justice and a betrayal of those who faced the ordeal of appearing in court and testifying against her. They were faced with accusations of being mercenary while she took refuge in her vocation as a nun and lied and cheated to preserve the image of a caring servant of the Church.
What is perhaps not being fully considered is that others in the Church hierarchy must have been aware of what was going on and chose to keep silent, and in their silence stand convicted as much as Sister Marie. Bishop Conti's comments in the circumstances would appear unwise and his attempts to sweep the entire matter under the carpet disingenuous.
I would hope that the Prosecution Service will appeal this sentence and also carry out further investigations - the victims deserve no less. I alas have no religious convictions but would hope that if there is a God, he will reserve a special corner of hell for Sister Marie and her cohorts.
James C Grierson,
87 Moffat Road, Dumfries.
September 29.
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