A MAN who spent two years in hospital after being subjected to cold baths for wetting his bed in a children’s home has described the institution as a “prison camp”.

Thomas Hagan, 82, was a resident at Quarrier’s Village in Renfrewshire between 1938 and 1952 and said it “ruined” his life.

The late-19th century development consisted of dozens of orphan homes which were run by a “house mother” and “house father”.

Mr Hagan waived his right to anonymity in a written statement to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI).

In the statement he described how his house father would beat him with a leather belt then put him in a cold bath if he wet the bed.

He said the baths would “turn his legs blue” and he thought he could die.

The witness said: “He did this to me every night because I would wet the bed nearly every night.

“I would lie in bed scared because he would batter me.”

Mr Hagan said he tried to tell others and he was eventually taken to a nearby sanatorium - aged six or seven - when he collapsed after being pulled from a cold bath.

He returned to Quarriers after lengthy treatment and said he was continually beaten as he still wet the bed.

Mr Hagan said: “I don’t have baths now, I’m too nervous, so I just sponge down.

“I don’t think I’ve had a bath since I left Quarriers.”

The witness remained at the home until 1952 and said he saw other attacks on children at the site.

“I felt it was like a prison camp,” he said.

“At Christmas you would get one present but they (house parents) would throw the presents into the fire one by one after two weeks.

“I hope that things have changed and what happened to me could not happen in the care system now.

“It was a terrible life. They ruined our lives.”

The inquiry continues.