A senior nun who worked in Termonbacca during the 1960s and 70s has told the Historical Abuse Inquiry that residents there were happier than in other homes where she worked. Her statement, which has been adopted by the inquiry, spoke of the boys' "happy open faces" and their welcoming nature.
The nun, who cannot be named, is now elderly and frail. She gave evidence by videolink from another location.
She said she and another nun looked after some 60 boys, not including babies in the nursery. She worked every day for the first five years or so of her time in Derry, she said.
There were no civilian staff at Termonbacca at that time, but there were volunteers.
She said she “had a good idea of what was expected of her” in relation to treatment of children.
Asked if there was a written policy on the punishment of children, she said: “Not that I can remember, but from my experience we didn’t use discipline as such.”
She said there was never much discussion on discipline. She said she may have slapped a child on the hand or bottom “on the rare occasion” and no-one had never said it was unacceptable to do so.