Female trio convicted for historic child home cruelty

(Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Three women linked to a series of child “cruelty and assaults” at a home in East Ayrshire in the 1970s and 1980s have been convicted.

Eileen, McElhinney, 78, Carol Buirds, 75,  and Dorothy Kane, 68, were found guilty of the offences occurring between 1972 and 1981 in children’s homes, run by the Sister’s of Nazareth in Scotland, in Kilmarnock and Lasswade, Midlothian.

The trio, whose treatment towards youngsters was described as “inhumane”,  will be sentenced at a later date after being brought to trial at Edinburgh Sherriff Court on Friday 28 November.

Detective Inspector Lynn McPhail for Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit believes the inquiry became “harrowing and complex”.

She said: “The acts carried out by these women towards the children they were supposed to be taking care of and protecting, were horrendous.

“Their behaviour included kicking, punching and pushing children, hitting them with objects, locking a child in a room without food or water, forcing one to eat soap, and making others take cold showers.”

McPhail also showed gratitude for the cooperation of those affected by the events and the police throughout the investigation process.

She added: “I would like to thank the victims for coming forward. It is never easy even with the passage of time, to talk about these kind of experiences.

“I would also like to thank all the officers who worked on this investigation and commend them for their dedicated work alongside partners to bring these women to justice.”

Anyone with concerns regarding child abuse should call 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.