Bill Harrison/GeographFive nuns have been accused of multiple historical abuse charges against several children.
Marie Docherty, 84, Mary Broderick, 83, Margaret McLafferty, 67, Kathleen McLean, 76, and Mary Doyle, 80, were named on an indictment which contains 108 charges.
The alleged crimes are said to have taken place mainly at Nazareth House locations in Aberdeen and Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, between 1965 and 1982.
None of the accused were present in the dock for the hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
Warning – this story contains distressing content and references to alleged child abuse
Court papers state that the abuse included forcing a teenage girl to sit in a cold bath and pressing a hot iron onto her hand.
Another charge says a 10-year-old girl had soap forced into her mouth which caused her to vomit.
The same girl was allegedly forced to drink salt which caused her to vomit.
A boy was said to have been sent to a male staff member to be punished and as a result was physically and sexually abused.
Another boy is stated to have had head lice lotion rubbed into his eyes and struck with a belt.
Other charges say that some of the children were forced to kiss a corpse.
A girl is alleged to have had wooden rulers attached to her arms and feet to prevent her biting her nails to her injury and permanent disfigurement.
The same girl is further claimed to have been forced to stand over night and stopped from using the toilet.
Nun ‘wore boxing gloves’
It is further alleged that a boy was pushed and kicked down a flight of stairs when he was aged between three and seven-years-old.
Another boy is stated to have been forced to stand in snow and been refused to come inside.
The same boy is further claimed to have been pushed off a cliff into water.
One of the nuns, Miss Broderick, is said to have wore boxing gloves and struck the boy to his head.
She is further claimed to have struck him on the head and body with a cricket stump.
The same nun is alleged to have sexually and indecently assaulted other boys.
Judge Lord Colbeck provisionally set aside eight weeks for trial in March 2027 in Glasgow.
A further hearing has been fixed for March 2026.
