The former bishop of Derry has strongly defended the Sisters of Nazareth for “doing the work that nobody else was doing” in providing shelter for children during many “dangerous decades”.

Speaking at the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Banbridge, Dr Edward Daly said their work was also “taken for granted” and he asked what would have happened to some 5,000 children cared for by nuns over that time had they not done so.

Earlier yesterday, the Sisters of Nazareth, who ran two children’s homes in Derry, again admitted and apologised for physical and sexual abuses suffered by residents there.

A senior nun and representative for the Sisters of Nazareth repeated the order’s apology for abuses and neglect of children in their care.

Sr Brenda McCall, speaking on behalf of the order, was asked if it was accepted by the order that in some cases the standard of care was not acceptable. She admitted much of the testimony already heard by the inquiry into historical abuses at care homes was “shocking and harrowing”. Certain behaviour by some nuns was “just not right”, she said.

Asked was the order guilty of physical abuse, Sr Brenda said: “Unfortunately yes, I would accept that. Yes.”

She also admitted older boys and outside volunteer staff also committed physical abuse “in some instances”.

She agreed there was an awareness of peer abuse and sexual experimentation among boys at St Joseph’s home in Termonbacca, Derry.

Regarding the handling of claims of sex abuse by some children, Sr Brenda said some children may not have been believed if they made complaints, particularly of sex abuse.

Christine Smith QC, who is senior counsel to the inquiry, raised the congregation’s apology to former residents for any physical or sexual abuses and asked Sr Brenda if she would like to include in that apology an expression of remorse for emotional suffering and neglect. Sr Brenda replied: “Totally and absolutely.”

‘Harrowing’
Finishing two days of evidence to the inquiry, Sr Brenda McCall said: “It was a very harrowing and challenging time for us as a congregation and to listen to the evidence given was very harrowing indeed.”

Addressing chairman Sir Anthony Hart she added: “We are a human group, a human organisation and we had people that were champions to the cause and we had people that were a bit weaker. All I can say is we had some wonderful, heroic, I would say inspirational, Sisters. I am proud to stand on their shoulders and carry on the work of the congregation started by our founder to work for the...weak of society.”