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A disturbing case has emerged involving a foster carer with a lengthy criminal past who was nonetheless permitted to care for vulnerable children. Douglas Daniel, along with his wife Barbara, began fostering children in 1986 despite his extensive criminal record, which included 26 convictions for various offenses such as housebreaking and car theft. The couple was recently found guilty of abusing children in what has been described as a “house of horrors” located in Glasgow.
One of the victims, who has been referred to as Lynn to protect her identity, recounted her traumatic experience of living with the Daniels in 1991. She was just seven years old at the time and testified about the cruel treatment endured during her four-month stay. Lynn described being confined to a makeshift cell, locked inside a bird pen with geese, and forced to stand naked on one leg in the corner while the Daniels ate dinner as if nothing was wrong. She reflected on the lasting impact of this abuse, saying, “I definitely think that, if that hadn’t have happened, my life would be very different.”
The court proceedings revealed further shocking details. The Daniels, who claimed to have fostered around 100 children, had subjected their young charges to humiliating and cruel punishments. This included making a four-year-old live inside a chicken coop, forcing another child to bathe in a bird bath, and compelling a child to eat a cow’s tongue intended for a pet ferret. Sheriff Louise Arrol KC acknowledged the courage of the victims and condemned the Daniels’ home as a “house of horrors.” She directly addressed Douglas Daniel, noting the irony that despite his history of dishonesty, he had been entrusted with children’s welfare, stating, “Your past has caught up with you.”
Documents obtained by the BBC further exposed the failure of oversight during the time the Daniels were fostering. Glasgow City Council’s social work department was aware as early as 1999 of complaints from Lynn, who was then still in care, about the abuse she suffered. A senior social worker’s letter referenced these allegations and Lynn’s wish to formally complain, but it remains unclear what steps, if any, the council subsequently took. The council has now stated it is reviewing the case and examining the handling of Daniel’s criminal background, emphasizing that foster care approval processes and monitoring have since been “significantly improved” with stricter assessments and oversight in place
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