Steven McNally sentenced to 26 years in prison for sexual abuse at Nazareth House children’s home in Nottingham

Leigh Day abuse claims solicitor Catriona Rubens, who represents a survivor of Steven McNally’s abuse while at Nazareth House Children’s Home, said the conviction and sentencing was a relief for the survivors who had pursued criminal complaints. The criminal process was particularly lengthy as Mr McNally had to be extradited from Ireland to stand trial.

McNally’s sentence was handed down Friday 19 January at Nottingham Crown Court, after McNally was found guilty of sexual abuse against multiple children during the 1970s at the children’s home in Lenton, Nottingham, run by the Sisters of Nazareth, an Order of the Catholic Church.

McNally was sentenced to 26 years and one year on licence for two counts of abuse running consecutively. He will serve 26 years plus one concurrently for another 23 counts of abuse.

McNally, aged 67, worked as a care home manager at Nazareth House from around 1974 to 1979, and his criminal trial concluded with a guilty verdict on 4 December.

Catriona Rubens previously represented another former resident of Nazareth House, who brought a claim for abuse by a different member of staff during the 1970s and 1980s. The civil claim was settled for a five-figure sum in December 2022 against the Sisters of Nazareth, a Catholic Order who run the Children’s Home, who also offered a formal apology.

Following McNally’s sentencing, Catriona Rubens said:

“I am pleased that my client can experience a sense of justice through the conclusion of the criminal trial, which has been a very long and difficult process for him. McNally abused his position of authority while at the Children’s Home and caused immense suffering to children like my client.

“My client was exposed to horrific abuse at an institution that was supposed to keep him safe, and, like the other survivor I represented who complained of abuse at Nazareth House, this has had a lifelong impact. My client has instructed us to bring a civil claim for the abuse he suffered, and through our investigations I hope that we can provide him with some closure and further hold the Sisters of Nazareth to account.”