SNS GroupA woman claimed she was forced to stand with geese as a form of punishment by her former foster parents.
The 53-year-old gave recorded evidence at the trial of Barbara and Douglas Daniel on Wednesday.
The pair – aged 80 and 75 – allegedly treated seven children cruelly and unnaturally at their home in Glasgow’s Parkhead.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the charges span between August 1986 and March 1991.
The woman told the court that she was sent to live with the Daniels for “six to eight weeks” having been at a children’s home.
She recalled occasions where she was made to sleep on the curved stairs on the Daniels’ landing.
The woman added: “I was mind blown. They never saw anything wrong with that because it was a punishment. They saw no wrong in what they did to me.”
The witness went on to tell police officers in her recorded interview about geese which were kept at the back of the Daniels’ home.
She said: “As part of a punishment, I was put outside with the geese.
“When I spoke back to the Daniels, or Barbara would get me to eat food that I disliked, goose eggs.
“If I refused, part of my punishment was I would be put outside where the geese were running free
“The geese would attack you. She would pull you and shake you. Barbara would put you in front of the geese.
“The geese could tell you were scared of them and attack you.”
She stated that she was left with red marks “that would not go away” as the geese would nip her skin.
The woman later recalled being separated from the Daniels and their family at meal times.
She said: “The plate was slammed down in front of me. Nine times out of ten, it just looked like slosh.”
The woman then compared herself to being a “paycheck” for the Daniels, who were “not very caring.”
She later stated that she was not allowed to close the door to use the toilet, and they did not care if she was washed.
The woman stated that she was allowed to go to a children’s home after running away from the Daniels’ property six times.
When asked how she felt, the woman said: “I was sad, I was constantly scared – I was confused constantly.
“That had a screwed-up effect. It took a lot when I went to the children’s home for me to trust the staff…the staff worked hard.”
The woman stated that he still has nightmares to this day, and it has “affected my life.”
The Daniels, now of Kent, deny the charges and the trial continues before Sheriff Louise Arrol KC.
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