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More brave victims have described the horrific abuse at the hands of a nun who allegedly sexually assaulted little girls in her care.

Last week grandmother-of-nine Marie Hargreaves bravely spoke out about Sister Isobel O'Brien, who she says battered, psychologically tortured and sexually abused her in Greenfield House convent in Billinge, St Helens.

A Merseyside Police investigation in 2015 found the nun had died, but the ECHO understands she would have been prosecuted if she was alive.

After Marie's heartbreaking story was published in the ECHO, Bernadette Bocock, 59, and her sister, Linda Wilson, 63, added their voices to the calls for justice.

The sisters were placed into Newstead Children's Home, on Old Mill Lane, Wavertree, and into the care of Sister O'Brien who moved there following the closure of Greenfield House in the early 1960s.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

Neither had reported the abuse before now, but were moved by Marie Hargreaves' account to share their stories.

Bernadette said: "I just want her to know that she's not on her own and we believe her."

Bernadette, who now lives in Anfield, remembers the day she arrived in the home, and was manhandled and "ragged around" as the nun roughly bathed her.

But things only got worse from there.

Speaking to the ECHO, Bernadette said: "When the social worker was there they were nice as pie wasn't they? But we had to do little jobs, when we were like four and five.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

“But when you're four and five you don't do it properly so I was always nervous when I look back.

“We had to clean the bathroom from day one really. And If you didn't do it they would knuckle you on the head, say 'you haven't done it' and punch you with the knuckle in your back."

Confused and scared, Bernadette was in constant fear of being caught "misbehaving" by Sister O'Brien.

She said: "You got the leather belt in the attic, if you did something. I didn't know, because I was in care traumatised, what I was doing wrong. Every report said 'she distracts the class'.

“I didn't know I was doing that, and I used to get the belt. And they used to threaten me; you're going to a prison, and I would be crying to Linda 'I don't want to go'.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

“I didn't know I was misbehaving, it was traumatising."

On one occasion, when she was around six, Bernadette was caught calling another girl a 'swine' and was forced to stand in the corner for hours, missing her lunch and dinner.

Eventually, the abuse became sexual.

Bernadette says she remembers being sexually assaulted on a "couple of occasions" late at night.

She said: "A couple of times this girl, I don't know if she was in the convent or was working there. She and Sister Isobel would climb into bed and there was touching.

(Image: Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

"At the time I didn't know. In my head, you know when you know something's not right? And obviously it wasn't right but I didn't know what it was."

Bernadette said on one of the occasions she was seriously ill with measles and vomited.

She told the ECHO: "I would just lie there, like frozen really. I remember, I said I was sick, I had the measles and I was being sick.

"She goes 'get up and clean that', and I had to clean my sick up."

Bernadette, who has struggled with anxiety, depression and alcohol problems over the years, says she struggled with intimacy in her romantic life.

She said: "I've got a partner and he says 'oh you won't hug me. It's like I'm frozen. The first time I got married my husband would be like, leave the lights on, but I felt dirty.

Mental health support Helplines and support groups The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to. Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.

Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won't show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity based in England providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.

Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.

Young Persons Advisory Service – Providing mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.uk

"You don't think it's related to the abuse at the time, it's only later."

Some of the most lasting damage to Sister O'Brien's alleged victims came from the verbal and psychological abuse.

Bernadette's sister Linda, who now lives in Wavertree, described how she was tormented about her weight by the nun.

She said: "I was a big child, although I don't know how because we didn't get fed properly. But Sister Isobel would make me wear a corset to go to school in.

"She would call me Fatty Arbuckle I just remember always worrying about this corset. She was a very wicked person."

Linda also described being punched in the back of the head and said the nuns would make them stand outside with no clothes on.

She said: "It was a few times a week, and we would also get the strap. It's had a bad effect on my life, I have suffered from depression and anxiety."

Marie, 65, had reported physical abuse to the police in the 1990s but did not feel able to report the sexual elements until after the death of her husband, Jack Hargreaves, in 2010.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Police logs from the 2015 investigation state Merseyside Police were told by Catholic authorities that other allegations had been received about Sister O'Brien.

Both Newstead and Greenfield House were run by the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle, a charity based in Birmingham.

The Archdiocese of Birmingham's safeguarding team are co-ordinating response to complaints about the nun, and confirmed a call had been received this week about Newstead.

Speaking in relation to Marie's complaints, it said the archdiocese had publicly apologised to all victims of child sexual abuse involving the church during the ongoing Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

It said discussions were progressing between the Sisters of St Paul and Marie's legal team.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

A spokeswoman added: "The Archdiocese is committed to safeguarding and the door is open for all survivors to meet Archbishop Bernard Longley to talk about their experiences if they wish."

Marie now hopes to file a claim in the civil courts, but according to her legal team she requires compelling evidence from other victims to overturn the statute of limitations, which states claims over child sexual abuse must be made before the victim turns 21.

A statement from her legal team, AO Advocates, said: "Stories like Marie's are far too common. AO Advocates is working hard to bring these crimes to light and to prevent them from continuing.

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"If you remember Marie, or were a victim of abuse yourself at Greenfield House and believe you could be of help in this case, please do contact Julie Taberer on jtaberer@aoadvocates.com or Shannon Moore on smoore@aoadvocates.com or call 01628 567 549."