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The crimes of a nun who allegedly abused society's most vulnerable children are beginning to come to light thanks to the bravery of one of her victims.

Sister Isobel O'Brien was identified as part of a Merseyside Police investigation into abuse at Greenfield House convent in Billinge, St Helens, after Marie Hargreaves, now 65, came forward decades later.

Marie says from the age of six she was savagely beaten, mentally abused and subjected to horrific sexual assaults with a coat-hanger while living at the convent between 1959 and 1963.

Marie made tentative efforts to come forward in 1998, speaking to Greater Manchester Police as part of a major investigation into children's homes dubbed Operation Cleopatra.

However she did not feel able to talk about the sexual element of the abuse until after the death of her husband, Jack Hargreaves, in 2010.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Now Marie, who has bravely waived her right to anonymity, is speaking out in the hope that other victims come forward and help hold the institutions that failed her to account.

She said: "It still impacts people. It's a hard thing to explain; the self hatred that you go through. You don't feel like you belong in the world because of it.

"It will never go away."

Marie, six, and her seven-year-old brother, Fred, were placed in Greenfield House when their parents, who had eight other children, were temporarily unable to look after them.

The mum of three, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of two was the youngest child in the convent and claims Sister O'Brien ordered older girls to administer brutal beatings.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

She says some of those girls, who have never been identified, also sexually abused her in the dorm rooms at night and made her think it was "normal."

A police investigation in December 2015 revealed Sister O'Brien as the suspect, but also made the crushing discovery that she had died before the allegations could be tested in court.

Other allegations have been made against Sister O'Brien and Marie says she was told by police that a criminal prosecution would have been pursued if she was alive.

Marie, then surnamed Kibblewhite, says she was primarily cared for by Sister O'Brien, who she claims quickly demonstrated a penchant for cruelty and violence.

She said: "The first thing they did was cut all my hair off. I remember screaming. They put me in a little room, like a cell, with another girl who was older than me.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

"The older girls would get me to get into bed with them.

"[Sister O'Brien] would never use my name, she only ever called me Kibbie. I started to think that was my name. It was all to demoralise me.

"She would get the older girls, who were aged about 11 to 13, to gang up regularly beating me up.

"I think sometimes it was for sticking up for my older brother. I always stuck up for him even thought I was little. I would question things as well which they didn't like. I would say why?"

Marie, who worked in a bakery and now lives in Hathershaw, Oldham said the violence and cruelty escalated and she remembers sitting in her room "crying all night."

(Image: Marie Hargreaves)

"I remember something happened and [Sister O'Brien] got them to get me into a room. She was waiting at the end of the bed and they allowed the sexual abuse to happen."

Marie says she was sexually assaulted with the coat hanger by Sister O'Brien on at least two occasions.

In around 1963, Greenfield House closed down and traumatised Marie was able to return home to her parents, who had no idea of the devastating abuse she had suffered.

Many of the children, and staff, in Greenfield House were relocated to Newstead Children's Home in Wavertree.

Notes from Marie's solicitor, AO Advocates, describe the effects of the abuse, stating: "The client experiences flashbacks and nightmares. The client suffers from very low self esteem. The client is also very overprotective of her children, which has caused problems and tensions within the family."

(Image: Vincent Cole)

Marie told the ECHO: "I had to grow up and try to have a normal life. I kept saying to myself; I'm normal. But nothing that happened to me was normal.

"I didn't want to be close to anybody. It puts a barrier between you and your own children, and it's with you always. Abuse is very, very cruel."

Marie says she now feels she could forgive Sister O'Brien, and even wishes to place flowers on her grave.

Police logs of the 2015 investigation describe how detectives became aware that complaints had already been received against Sister O'Brien, which are being co-ordinated by the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

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The logs state: "I have liaised with [redacted], safeguarding co-ordinator for the Archdiocese of Birmingham. She is currently dealing with a number of similar allegations against the same subject. "

Marie now hopes to file a claim in the civil courts, but needs compelling evidence from other victims to overturn the statute of limitations, which restricts claims over child abuse until the victim has turned 21.

In a statement to the ECHO, the Archdiocese of Birmingham said it 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.

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.

"In relation to this particular case, the Archdiocese safeguarding team were informed of the allegation made by the individual.

"The safeguarding co-ordinator in post at the time (2016) spoke at length with the individual and explored support which could be helpful to her. This included meeting with the Sisters of Charity of St Paul."

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A statement from 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.

"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."

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that an investigation into this matter was concluded in January 2016 following the death of the suspect, and consequently no further action was taken.



"If you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated."