The women, employed at the facility run by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, allegedly tied residents to beds, confined them in cages, kicked them, and subjected them to verbal abuse.
The harrowing allegations, dating from 2021 to 2022, were documented in photos and videos that emerged in 2022, as reported by Polish news outlet Wirtualna Polska.
The case prompted widespread public outrage, prompting the Polish Commissioner for Human Rights to launch an ex officio investigation into the claims.
Kraków prosecutors interviewed 60 witnesses during the inquiry. At the time, the care home accommodated 47 children and teenagers.
The court imposed prison sentences and banned both women from working with minors.
Nuns from southern Poland jailed for harming social care facility residents
Bożena K., found guilty of assaulting one girl and abusing disabled minors, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison, alongside a five-year ban on work involving minors.
Bronisława G., the director of the care home, received a four-year prison sentence for abuse and for attempting to obstruct the investigation by pressuring staff to produce tailored statements for authorities. She was also given a five-year ban on working with children.
Both women were ordered to pay compensation ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 PLN (approximately €355–€1,183) to their victims. They retain the right to appeal the verdict.
The case has reignited debate in Poland over the oversight of religious-run social institutions and the protection of vulnerable children, highlighting systemic concerns about abuse in care settings.
(mp)
Source: IAR/PAP/Wp.pl/X/@SzJadczak