A 77-year-old retired teacher, Patricia Robertson, has been convicted of abusing 18 young girls at a former residential school in Angus, Scotland.
During her years at Fornethy House, the girls — sent there for supposed “short-term respite” from their homes — were instead subjected to physical and emotional abuse, including force-feeding, humiliation, and assault.
One survivor told jurors:
“I just wanted to curl up like a wee baby. I still do not understand how an adult could be like that.”
Abuse Spanning 15 Years at Fornethy House
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the abuse took place between January 1969 and August 1984. Robertson, then a teacher at Fornethy House, tormented children aged between five and twelve under the guise of caring for them.
Despite denying the charges, Robertson was found guilty on 18 counts of cruel and unnatural treatment. She admitted having a “strong voice” when dealing with the girls but claimed she was neither violent nor a bully.
Survivors Celebrate Long-Awaited Justice
Dozens of women who had attended Fornethy House as children gathered in court for the verdict. Many cheered, hugged, and wept as the guilty verdict was read out, marking the end of a decades-long fight for justice.
Fornethy House, located in Kilry, Angus, was operated first by Glasgow Corporation and later Strathclyde Regional Council. It was described as providing “convalescent care” for young girls for up to eight weeks at a time — a claim survivors now say masked a regime of fear and cruelty.
Harrowing Testimonies from Former Pupils
Several survivors described harrowing experiences under Robertson’s care:
- One recalled being force-fed semolina until she choked.
“She pulled my hair back and shoved the spoon down my throat,” the woman testified. “She just would not let go.”
- Others said they were slapped, punched, and humiliated, often made to stand facing the wall for hours.
- A former pupil remembered being beaten while scrubbing floors, describing how Robertson grabbed her by the clothes and shook her “like a rag doll.”
Another survivor described Fornethy as “scary, cold, unloved,” adding that letters home were censored:
“You could write to your family, but only what they dictated. You had to copy it word for word.”
Decades of Abuse Finally Exposed
The court heard that Robertson also slapped, punched, and threw objects at children, including a blackboard duster. In one instance, she allegedly placed a girl over her knee and struck her bare skin.
Robertson, now living in Essex, gave evidence in her own defense but continued to deny all wrongdoing.
She has been granted bail until sentencing in December, when Judge Lord Colbeck will determine her punishment.
A Dark Chapter in Scotland’s Care History
The Fornethy House abuse case is one of several historical child abuse investigations in Scotland that have come to light in recent years. Survivors and advocacy groups have long called for accountability for the mistreatment of children placed in council-run “care” homes.
The verdict marks a significant milestone for those who suffered at Fornethy House, many of whom have waited decades to be believed.
