LISBON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - A Portuguese court sentenced six people to up to 18 years jail on Friday for abusing children from a state orphanage in a marathon court case that has shocked the nation.
The defendants, including a well-known television presenter, a former diplomat and two doctors, were given prison sentences of from just under six years to 18 years for their participation in a network of abuse of children at the Casa Pia state home.
One defendant, who had been linked to a house where abuses took place, was freed of any charges.
"The stories that I heard were the most terrible of my life," said Catalina Pestana, who was put in charge of Casa Pia after the crimes were first reported in 2002.
The court heard that Carlos Silvino, who received the longest sentence, had sexually abused several under-aged boys in the orphanage garage and then given them money.
Silvino has confessed to some of the crimes but all the other defendants say they are innocent.
