A priest told a former resident of a church-run children's home in Northern Ireland that he was the product
of an evil and satanic relationship, an inquiry has heard.
The son of an unmarried mother said he became a zombie, introverted and fearing the next beating, lying soaked in urine at night in an attempt to dissuade any sexual abusers from "dropping the hand".
He was a resident at St Joseph's in Termonbacca, Londonderry, run by the Sisters of Nazareth order of nuns, in the 1950s and complained about his treatment to a priest after leaving the home.
The response was: "You must never speak about this, you must understand... you and the other orphans are bastards. You are the product of an evil and satanic relationship. You never had a chance."
The witness said: "That was the day I left the Catholic Church."
The treatment of children in church-run residential homes is a key concern of the investigation being held in Banbridge, Co Down. It is chaired by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart and is considering cases in 13 residential institutions between 1922, the foundation of Northern Ireland, and 1995.
Child abuse inquiry: Priest told boy he was 'product of evil and satanic relationship' (Northern Ireland)
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