Ex-nuns found guilty of abusing children at a home

Two ex-nuns have been found guilty of committing abuse against children in Scottish care homes over four decades ago. Carol Buirds, 75, and Eileen McElhinney, 78, inflicted physical and emotional harm on several children at facilities operated by the Catholic Sisters of Nazareth. Additionally, retired support worker Dorothy Kane was convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for cruel and unnatural treatment of minors.

The offences occurred between 1972 and 1981 at Nazareth House homes in Lasswade, Midlothian, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, and an undisclosed location in Dunbar, East Lothian.

Details of Abuse at Nazareth House Orphanages

During a five-week trial, the jury heard that Buirds, known as Sister Carmel Rose, physically assaulted children by hitting, punching, and kicking them. She forced soap and food into childrens mouths and confined one child in a dark cellar without food or water. In other incidents, she rubbed urine-soaked bedding on childrens heads and humiliated a girl by making her walk in front of peers wrapped in wet sheets. Children were repeatedly forced to eat soap, and Buirds forced them into cold baths while laughing at their distress. She also used belts, sticks, rulers, and slippers to assault children.

Buirds was found guilty on 13 counts of abuse spanning 1975 to 1981 and was cleared of five other charges.

McElhinney, referred to as Sister Mary Eileen, was convicted of five charges for assaults at the Lasswade home between 1972 and 1975. She physically abused children by punching and kicking them, striking them with a hairbrush, and forcing them to endure cold showers. One victim described being pushed to the ground, kicked, and repeatedly jumped on, leaving him in tears and attempting to protect himself.

Dorothy Kane, aged 68, was found guilty of cruel and unnatural treatment of children at Lasswade between 1980 and 1981. She dragged one child down a corridor, pressed her knees against his chest, and ignored assaults committed by other staff. Kane also locked a child in a cupboard for a period of time. She was cleared of two additional charges.

Next Steps

All three women were granted bail by Sheriff Iain Nicol, with sentencing deferred to allow preparation of social work reports.

Ongoing Inquiry into Abuse

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry continues to investigate widespread mistreatment at Nazareth House orphanages. Over 300 individuals have reported abuse, and inquiry chair Lady Smith described the homes as "places of fear, hostility, and confusion."

Author’s Analysis

From my perspective, the verdicts confirm long-standing allegations of physical and emotional abuse at Nazareth House care homes in Scotland during the 1970s and early 1980s. The convictions of Carol Buirds, Eileen McElhinney, and Dorothy Kane relate to documented incidents across multiple locations and were supported by witness testimony presented during a five-week trial.

The jury found that the abuse involved repeated acts of violence, humiliation, and neglect against children in institutional care. The offences occurred between 1972 and 1981 and included assaults, forced punishments, and degrading treatment, as established in court. Some charges were not proven, but multiple counts were upheld for each defendant.

The court granted bail to all three women, with sentencing deferred pending social work reports. This procedural step follows standard practice and does not alter the findings of guilt reached by the jury.

These convictions form part of a broader record examined by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which has received testimony from hundreds of former residents. The inquiry’s findings continue to contextualize these cases within systemic failures at Nazareth House facilities.

Sources:

• Former nuns guilty of campaign of abuse at children's home