A nun was yesterday found guilty of abuse of children aged eight to 17 in her care.

Marie Theresa Docherty, 58, known as Sister Alphonso during her years at children's homes where the offences occurred in the 1960s and 70s, but now known as Sister Marie, sat impassively as a jury of nine women and six men at Aberdeen Sheriff Court convicted her after a six-week trial.

She will be sentenced next Thursday after a medical report has been received.

The verdict could be significant in relation to hundreds of legal actions likely to be pursued by former Nazareth House residents which could result in more than #8m being paid out in compensation.

On the first day of her trial, Sister Alphonso faced 23 charges, but by yesterday, on the direction of the judge, only seven remained as there was insufficient evidence to convict on the others.

After almost 10 hours of deliberation, the jury found her guilty of four of the charges and not proven on the remaining three.

Sister Alphonso, wearing the blue habit of the Sisters of Nazareth, the order she joined 40 years ago, was found guilty of four charges of cruel and unnatural treatment of children.

The charges included repeatedly seizing hold of Patricia Milne, 44, dragging her along corridors, striking her against a radiator, and punching her on the head and body.

The police inquiry was sparked off by a complaint from Ms Helen Cusiter, 43, and the nun was found guilty of repeatedly seizing her by her hair, punching her on the head and body, striking her with a hairbrush, pushing her from a swing, and knocking her to the ground and force-feeding her.

She was also found guilty of force-feeding Ms Jeanette Adams, 41, repeatedly striking on the head with a hairbrush, punching and slapping her on the head and body, and pulling her hair.

All these offences were committed in Nazareth House in Claremont Street, Aberdeen, but she was also found guilty of forcing an item of confectionery into the mouth of Ms Grace Montgomery, now 37, at the Nazareth House home in Lasswade, Midlothian, and of throwing items of soiled underwear at her.

Sister Alphonso, who suffered a heart condition during the 26-day trial, showed no emotion as the verdicts were delivered.

Ms Adams was in court to see Sister Alphonso convicted and said the trial had brought back many bad memories, but it was a relief to have the stigma of being called a liar removed. ''We are over the moon. It has been a lot of years coming and I am just glad that justice was done. It is a lot of years to be called a liar.

''I think the guilty ones speak for the whole lot of us. The four guilty verdicts speak for the lot - it is just that some had more done to us than others.

''I am not worried about the punishment - so long as she was found guilty and someone has acknowledged what she did.''

The verdict will be a major boost to 340 people who are claiming damages from the Sisters of Nazareth, who dropped the prefix ''Poor'' several years ago and have assets of more than #150m.

The former Nazareth House residents, and around 100 who were resident in other homes linked to the Catholic Church, are being represented by Glasgow-based solicitor Cameron Fyfe, who said yesterday he was ready to proceed with 11 test cases at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. They have each been granted Legal Aid to finance their actions.

''Sister Alphonso's conviction helps us a great deal,'' he said. ''It means that all the other people who are alleging similar mistreatment may be telling the truth, whereas the Church has until now always maintained that they are telling lies.

''Of course, I accept it was not just Sister Alphonso who was guilty of cruelty. Many of the allegations made by my clients who had been in Nazareth House homes in different parts of the country are very similar to those made during the Aberdeen trial.''

Father Danny McLoughlin, the Catholic Church's spokesman, said the case had clearly affected the reputation of the Church.

''We regret that, and we even more regret the fact that anyone came to harm, but the final responsibility lies with the Sisters of Nazareth. The Sisters of Nazareth have done immense good and there have been many people who have benefited from the work of the sisters, but clearly the actions of this particular sister have damaged the reputation of the order.''

He said the order was an autonomous organisation within the Catholic Church, with its own statutes, its own constitution and its own hierarchy, although it would work in close co-operation with the bishop of the diocese.

During the trial, one of the witnesses claimed she had contacted Bishop Mario Conti of Aberdeen and had been told that the Catholic Church was autonomous and answerable to no-one.

''What was likely to have been said there was that the Nazareth Sisters are an autonomous organisation within the Church and, being an autonomous organisation, are responsible for any failures of their people,'' he said.