Former Headmistress Denies Girls Were Physically Assaulted by Nuns at Approved School in the 1970s

Daily Record
May 10, 2013

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/nun-anne-kenny-denies-assaulting-1879605

Anne Kenny

A NUN who was headmistress at an approved school yesterday denied assaulting girls in her care.

Anne Kenny, 79, known as Sister Rosaria, told Paisley Sheriff Court that corporal punishment was forbidden at Dalbeath approved school and that she had never imposed it.

Kenny, who became headmistress of the school in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, in July 1966, is accused of three charges of assault dating from the 70s.

She told the court they would sometimes use detention to punish someone who was being “obstreperous” but that no physical intervention was used and the girls would have to walk themselves to the detention room.

Asked by defence QC Ronnie Clancy if there was any truth in claims made by the three alleged victims that she was violent towards them, she said: “None whatever.”

He put to her the allegation made by Catherine Logan, now 57, that she was struck with a carpet beater. Kenny said this wasn’t true, adding: “We had no carpets to beat.”

She denied hitting Mrs Logan with a riding crop and another woman, Kathleen Humphries, with a carpet beater.

Kenny also denied hitting Elizabeth Howell on the soles of her feet and grabbing her and pushing her about.

Mr Clancy asked: “Did any of that happen?”. She replied: “No.”

Kenny told the court that before this case she had never been accused of any violent conduct.

Asked by prosecutor Douglas Hamilton if any girl ever needed intervention to get them into the room, Kenny replied: “It was never allowed.”

Mr Hamilton told the witness: “It would appear from your evidence and the evidence from various Crown witnesses that there’s no middle ground here.”

He said there were “entirely” different descriptions given by Kenny and some of the Crown witnesses.

She said: “I think they may have gone through these experiences at some time in their lives but they did not have these experiences at Dalbeath girls’ school.”

Kenny, of Manchester, is on trial along with Agnes Reville, 77, of Newcastle, who is accused of four charges of assault.

They deny the charges and the trial continues.