Mum Claims a Nun's "Curse" Ruined Her Life.

By Lynn Jolly
Paisley Daily Express
May 6, 2013

http://www.paisleydailyexpress.co.uk/renfrewshire-news/2013/05/03/mum-claims-a-nun-s-curse-ruined-her-life-87085-33274753/

A mother-of-eight yesterday broke down in tears after telling a jury that a ‘nun’s curse’ had ruined her life.

Lucille Cope, 57, said that Mother Martin put a jinx on her while she was in Dalbeath Approved School in Bishopton in 1971.

In evidence at Paisley Sheriff Court, Mrs Cope said: “The curse placed on me by Sister Martin has followed me all my life.

“It’s time for her to remove the curse.”

Mrs Cope, who now lives in London, was giving evidence at the trial of Anne Kenny, 79, known as Mother Rosaria, and Agnes Reville, 77, known as Mother Martin.

They deny assaulting girls in their care in the early 1970s.

The court heard that Mrs Cope was sent to Dalbeth for malicious mischief and stealing 42 years ago and stayed there for about a year.

She was asked by prosecutor Douglas Hamilton: “In what way did Mother Martin abuse you?”

She replied: “The beatings by Sister Martin robbed me of my self esteem and that affects me to this day.”

Mrs Cope added: “If you did something wrong in the eyes of the nuns you would get punished.

“I wasn’t the perfect girl in the convent and I was punished.”

She was asked where she was beaten and replied: “On my arms, my legs and my head with a carpet beater. The force was enough to leave welts and bruises. I could be hit anything from five to 10 times on each occasion.”

Mrs Cope claimed that after the beatings she was given a drug, which sedated her. She said that she was given this on one occasion by Mother Martin.

She added that she was also struck on the knuckles by Mother Martin, on occasions.

Mr Hamilton asked if she was ever put in a room as a punishment and Mrs Cope replied: “It was the naughty room for bad girls.”

She said she was put in there by Mother Martin.

The prosecutor then asked: “Did you ever tell anyone about what was happening to you?”

Mrs Cope said: “Who was going to listen to us girls in a convent? These were nuns. I told my mum.”

Mrs Cope, who has numerous convictions for dishonesty and prostitution, also said that she had told doctors about her alleged abuse at Dalbeath, but the court heard that the only reference in her medical records described her childhood as happy.

The jury heard that she has had a troubled life. Her violent husband killed himself and two of her sons have died.

Ronnie Clancy QC, representing Mother Rosaria, said: “You can’t blame anything that happened to you on Dalbeath.”

Mrs Cope replied: “I still live with the curse of Dalbeath.

“It has haunted my life – the curse placed on me by Sister Martin.”

Robert Anthony QC, representing Mother Martin, said: “I’m going to suggest to you that what you say about Mother Martin being violent to you and placing a curse on you didn’t happen.”

Mrs Cope replied: “It did happen.”

Mr Anthony then showed Mrs Cope, whose maiden name was Kerr, the only records from Dalbeath that have not been destroyed or lost over the years.

He read out a note on the Dalbeath register which said: “Lucille Kerr’s frequent letters to us when she is on home leave are full of gratitude for what we are doing for her.”

The record also said that she was “making a positive response to her training.”

Mr Anthony said: “The reason for these notes is that there was no physical abuse of you at Dalbeath.”

Mrs Cope told him: “Yes, there was.”

Mrs Cope was then asked by prosecutor Mr Hamilton: “Are you telling the truth about what happened to you at Dalbeth?”

She replied: “Yes I am. I wouldn’t be standing here 37 years later if that wasn’t the case.”

The trial before Sheriff Susan Sinclair continues.