Allegations of rapes, beatings and other abuses made by former residents of Derry care homes run by the Sisters of Nazareth have been heard by the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. Statements submitted to the inquiry from those implicated strongly deny all claims.
The allegations and subsequent denials dominated evidence on the 15th day of the inquiry into alleged abuses in residential institutions.
One witness, who alleged she was repeatedly physically abused at St Joseph's Home, Termonbacca, in Derry, said she was also raped while in care outside the institution.
The woman, who is now herself a foster parent, told the inquiry panel she and her husband provided homes for children in care because she “didn’t want them to go through what I went through”.
The witness, who cannot be identified, cited regular beatings from a named nun who also showed alleged bias against children who “did not tell her things”. The inquiry heard this nun also force-fed children.
This was one “evil nun”, she said, “who would have knuckled you when she seen you”. Other nuns and most lay members of staff were good, “but this one sticks out the most”.
Another witness alleged that she suffered sexual abuse by boys who were residents at Termonbacca. She claimed that the older boys regularly came into the bedroom at night and abused her. This happened about 10 times and possibly every two or three weeks, she said.
She told the inquiry she was terrified but could not tell the nun what had happened to her as it was “dirty”.
Another witness also told the inquiry she was repeatedly sexually abused by another resident. This happened nearly every other night for weeks, she said. This was reported to a nun in the presence of a lay staff member, but she said her complaints were not taken seriously.
A statement made by the boy against whom allegations were made denied all the claims. He suggested that compensation may be behind the allegations.
The witness said this was not true and said she had not spoken to a solicitor about any abuse.