Seven former nuns from Belorado to be tried in Bilbao for degrading treatment of five elderly religious sisters
The Court of First Instance number 5 in Bilbao has concluded the investigation into seven former Poor Clare nuns accused of degrading treatment and abandonment of five religious sisters aged between 87 and 101 years old.
Seven former nuns from Belorado before Bilbao court
The Court of First Instance number 5 in Bilbao has concluded the investigation into the case against seven of the eight former Poor Clare nuns from the monastery of Belorado, according to El Mundo. The defendants will be tried under abbreviated proceedings for alleged degrading treatment, coercion, abandonment and failure to provide assistance towards five religious sisters aged between 87 and 101 years old.
The ruling was issued on 14 May and notified on Friday 22 May. In it, the judge agrees to continue the preliminary proceedings as abbreviated proceedings against the following defendants: Laura García de Viedma (Sister Isabel), Susana Mateo Cruz (Sister Sión), Roser Mas Selles (Sister Berit), Isabel Berta Jiménez (Sister Israel), Susana Varo Navarro (Sister Paloma), María Ana Paz Rubín (Sister Belén) and Sandra del Río Domínguez (Sister Alma). With regard to Zaida Pinar Navarro (Sister Myryam), the judge ordered dismissal as there was no evidence of her participation in the investigated facts.
All defendants will remain at liberty during the preparation of the oral hearing, in which the Public Prosecutor and the private accusers will specify their respective requests for penalties.
The facts date back to 18 December, when the Civil Guard, in support of the judicial commission, went to the convent in Orduña (Biscay). There five elderly religious sisters were found in alleged "degrading conditions". The five were transferred to Basurto Hospital for medical examination.
An application for reformation and, in the alternative, an appeal can be lodged against the ruling within a period of three days before the same court, as well as an appeal before the Provincial Court of Biscay within a period of five days. The defendants' legal defence is being handled by solicitor Norma Raño.
The former nuns, for their part, maintain their innocence. In a statement, the so-called "rebellious nuns" asserted that they "will remain united in the face of this bad news" and that "they are protected by God".
Source: El Mundo