Dumfries charity presses for Romanian institution probe Published duration 29 May 2013

Directors of a Dumfries-based charity have urged intervention at a Romanian institution at the centre of human rights abuse allegations.

The RAP Foundation works to improve conditions in the country's orphanages.

It has asked the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta to investigate the deaths of two young women at a facility in Bucharest.

The foundation has been denied access to the site for more than a year and fears others are in danger.

The RAP Foundation was started by former nurse Linda Barr who worked in Romanian orphanages after the overthrow of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu - and was horrified by conditions.

Run by a committee in Dumfries, it funds annual seaside holidays for residents and has enabled some to move into work and independent accommodation.

However, for more than a year, both RAP and a Romanian justice organisation have been denied access to a so-called centre for recuperation and rehabilitation in Bucharest.

According to RAP, severely disabled young people are kept tied to their beds and many show signs of severe malnutrition.

They said a former employee had described beatings and other forms of physical and mental abuse.

RAP has now asked for Romanian government intervention.