Kirchenakte1917 – 1981 · 64 Jahre
· im Zeitstrahl zeigen
Schottland, Smyllum Park und Bellevue, Kinderheime der Vinzentinerinnen 1917 bis 1981 (Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry 2018)
Die staatliche Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry stellte 2018 fest, dass Kinder in den schottischen Heimen der katholischen Vinzentinerinnen, vor allem im Waisenhaus Smyllum Park in Lanark, misshandelt wurden: geschlagen mit Lederriemen, Rosenkränzen und hölzernen Kruzifixen, zwangsernährt, als unbezahlte Arbeitskräfte eingesetzt, von Priestern, Schwestern und Personal sexuell missbraucht. Der sechsjährige Samuel Carr starb unterernährt an einer Infektion, kurz nachdem eine Schwester ihn schwer geschlagen hatte. 16 Kinder aus Smyllum liegen ohne Grabstein in einem Sammelgrab.
- Zeitraum
- 1917 – 1981 (64 Jahre)
- Bericht veröffentlicht
- 1. Januar 2018
- Land
- Vereinigtes Königreich
- Institutionen
- Töchter der christlichen Liebe vom hl. Vinzenz von Paul (Vinzentinerinnen)
Smyllum Park Orphanage Lanark
Bellevue Children's Home Rutherglen
St Vincent's Newcastle - Kategorie
- Gewalt, Sexueller Missbrauch
- Belegstufe
- A Primärquelle · was heißt das?
- Personen
- Samuel Carr (Kind in Smyllum, starb mit sechs Jahren unterernährt nach schweren Schlägen einer Schwester)
Charlie Forsyth (früheres Heimkind, später Mitarbeiter in Smyllum, misshandelte laut Feststellungen Kinder körperlich und seelisch)
Was den Menschen geschah
Wer war betroffen? Betroffene und Zahlen
- Kinder wurden in Smyllum und im Heim St Vincent's in Newcastle, das der Orden für die Diözese Hexham und Newcastle führte, sexuell missbraucht, von Priestern, einem Priesteramtskandidaten, Schwestern, Personal und einem Freiwilligen.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Children were sexually abused by priests, a trainee priest, Sisters, members of staff and a volunteer.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original - Samuel Carr starb mit sechs Jahren in Smyllum an einer schweren E.-coli-Infektion nach Kontakt mit einer Ratte. Er war unterernährt, obwohl er schon lange im Heim lebte, und war kurz vor seinem Tod von einer Schwester schwer geschlagen worden. Francis McColl, der schwerhörig war, starb mit 13 Jahren, nachdem ihn bei schlecht beaufsichtigtem Spiel ein Golfschläger traf. Patricia Meenan starb mit 12 Jahren, als sie auf der Flucht aus Smyllum von einem Auto erfasst wurde.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Samuel Carr, a child in Smyllum, died aged six years as a result of contracting a severe and vicious E. coli infection after contact with a rat. He was malnourished despite having been in Smyllum for a significant time. He had received a severe beating from a Sister not long before his death.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Francis McColl, a child in Smyllum, died aged 13 years after an accident in which he was hit by a golf club when it was being swung.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Patricia Meenan, a child in Smyllum, died aged 12 years as a result of being hit by a car when she was running away from Smyllum to go back to Glasgow.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original
Wie wurden sie angeklagt und verurteilt?
- Die Sisters, die aussagten, räumten ein, dass die geschilderten Praktiken, falls sie geschahen, auch nach damaligen Maßstäben Missbrauch gewesen wären. Die Untersuchung stellte fest, dass Kinder in der Obhut des Ordens missbraucht wurden.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Kap. 1 Introduction, S. 1 (PDF-S. 11)
„the Sisters who gave evidence accepted that, if the practices described in the evidence happened, they would have been abusive by the standards of the time“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Kap. 1 Introduction, S. 1 (PDF-S. 11). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8)
„Children were abused while in the care of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in Scotland.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8). Original
Was geschah mit den Betroffenen?
- Für viele Kinder waren Smyllum und Bellevue Orte der Angst, der Zwangskontrolle, der Drohung, übermäßiger Strafen und seelischen, körperlichen und sexuellen Missbrauchs, an denen sie keine Liebe, kein Mitgefühl, keine Würde und keinen Trost fanden.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8)
„For many children who were in Smyllum and Bellevue, the homes were places of fear, coercive control, threat, excessive discipline and emotional, physical and sexual abuse, where they found no love, no compassion, no dignity and no comfort.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8). Original - Kinder wurden mit Lederriemen, der „Lochgelly Tawse“ (einem Züchtigungsriemen), Haarbürsten, Stöcken, Schuhen, Rosenkränzen, hölzernen Kruzifixen und einer Hundeleine geschlagen; für manche gehörte das zum Alltag. Bei der Zwangsernährung hielt man Kindern die Nase zu, damit sie den Mund öffneten, und stopfte weiter Essen hinein, auch wenn sie erbrachen.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8)
„The implements used included leather straps, the “Lochgelly Tawse,” hairbrushes, sticks, footwear, rosary beads, wooden crucifixes and a dog’s lead.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8)
„For some children, being hit was a normal aspect of daily life.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8)
„holding their noses so as to force them to open their mouths. Food continued to be forced into their mouths even when they were vomiting it back“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8). Original - Linkshänder wurden beschimpft und zur rechten Hand gezwungen, protestantische Kinder beschimpft und als minderwertig behandelt. Einem Kind wurde beim Schlagen gesagt, man werde ihm das Jüdische schon austreiben.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Children were abused for being left handed by being called names and being forced to use their right hands instead.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Children were abused for being Protestants by being called names and treated as being of lesser importance.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„One child was told the Jewishness would be knocked out of him whilst he was being beaten.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original
Zeugenberichte und Akten
“Steaphain” said: “I was beaten. I was beaten up. It was a regular feature ... I can recall being beaten up on frequent occasions ... The people that were always behind the beatings were nuns. The people who were supposed to be looking after myself, my brother, my sister.
Übersetzung (nicht amtlich)
„Ich wurde geschlagen. Ich wurde verprügelt. Das gehörte dazu … Ich erinnere mich, dass ich häufig verprügelt wurde … Hinter den Schlägen standen immer Nonnen. Die Menschen, die sich um mich, meinen Bruder, meine Schwester kümmern sollten.“
Hintergrund
Warum? Begründung und Motive (laut Quellen)
- Die Untersuchung führte die Gewalt auch auf Personalmangel und Überforderung zurück: Unterbesetzung und der Druck auf oft junge, ungeschulte Schwestern hätten das Risiko erhöht, dass sie die Beherrschung verloren oder Gewalt als Mittel der Kontrolle einsetzten. Eine frühere Mitarbeiterin sagte, die Schwestern seien nicht ausgebildet gewesen und hätten die Kinder irgendwie unter Kontrolle halten müssen.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Kap. 3.2 Physical abuse, S. 10 (PDF-S. 20)
„understaffing and the consequent pressures brought to bear on – in many cases – young, untrained Sisters, increased the risk of them losing their temper and/or resorting to physical abuse“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Kap. 3.2 Physical abuse, S. 10 (PDF-S. 20). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Kap. 3.2 Physical abuse, S. 10 (PDF-S. 20)
„They weren’t trained and I think they just had to keep control of us how they could.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Kap. 3.2 Physical abuse, S. 10 (PDF-S. 20). Original
Wer bekam das Vermögen, wer profitierte?
- Kinder mussten schwere, nicht altersgerechte Arbeiten verrichten und wurden als unbezahlte Arbeitskräfte eingesetzt, weil es zu wenig Personal und zu wenig Geld für ausreichendes Personal gab.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8)
„Children were used as unpaid labour in circumstances where there were not enough staff and insufficient funds to employ an adequate number of staff.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. viii (PDF-S. 8). Original
Reaktion der Kirche
- Zwischen 1900 und 1981 wurden 16 Kinder und Jugendliche aus Smyllum im „Smyllum Plot“ des Friedhofs von St Mary's in Lanark begraben, ohne Kennzeichnung der Gräber und ohne Grabsteine; die Gräber von Schwestern auf demselben Friedhof haben Grabsteine mit Inschrift. Der Gedenkstein, den der Orden erst nach einer Kampagne von Überlebenden setzte, nennt keine Namen.
Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„between 1900 and 1981, there were 16 under-18 year olds who were recorded as having been residents at Smyllum buried in the “Smyllum Plot” within the cemetery of St Mary’s Parish Church, Lanark. There is no record of the individual lairs and there are no headstones to mark them.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9)
„Various Sisters and Charlie Forsyth are also buried in the St Mary’s Cemetery. Their graves are marked and have headstones with inscriptions.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. ix (PDF-S. 9). Original Beleg: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 10)
„erected by the Order in response to a campaign by In Care Abuse Survivors (INCAS). It does not bear the names of individual children.“
Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), Summary, S. x (PDF-S. 10). Original
Originaldokumente zum Nachlesen
- Staatlicher Bericht
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Schottland): Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen (Findings), 1. Januar 2018. Original (abgerufen 15. 10. 2026)
Änderungsprotokoll (2)
- : Aktualisiert: Zeitzeugen und Originaltexte, Tatsachen
- : Aufgenommen
Zuletzt geändert am 15. Oktober 2026. Fehlt etwas oder stimmt etwas nicht? Ergänzung oder Korrektur vorschlagen.