Ann just two months old when she was placed in a Catholic orphanage in Christchurch, New Zealand. She was physically and sexually abused by religious and lay staff at the orphanage and forced to work long hours on the orphanage farm and laundries. This is one of the first books to look at abuse within New Zealand Catholic institutions. I was stolen from my mother arms by St Vincent De Paul who were working for the nuns.

I was abused from 18months right through until I left at the age of 25years old after we got Married. I knew nothing about the world outside those red brick walls. I had no education I started working on the nuns farm at 5years old also in their laundries and kitchen.