A SEX abuse victim is suing a former children’s home where she says she was repeatedly raped by one of the carers.

Emma Orderley has launched legal action against North Ayrshire Council over the historic sex abuse claims which date back as far as 1974.

The former resident of Harley Place Children’s Home has spoken out to claim she was sexually abused by one of the home’s ‘House Parents’, Jim McMaster.

Emma was just 11-years-old when she was sent to live at the home after being taken in to care following claims she was being neglected.

But the now 54-year-old says not long after moving in to the unit McMaster - who has since passed away - began abusing her.

She said: “I wasn’t in the unit very long before I began to experience sexual abuse by the House Parent Jim McMaster. At first the abuse was mostly him using his hands to touch me but this soon became much worse. Jim began raping me on a frequent basis. He would come into my room and watch me. He would even come in whilst I was in the bath. The locks to the bathroom were taken off. I was no longer safe.”

McMaster’s house was on the grounds of Harley Place which Emma says meant he had access to her whenever he wanted.

She said: “He would put his hand across my mouth to prevent me from screaming. I have no idea how many times I was raped by him. There was no pattern. There were times it was twice in the same day.

“Even though the lights were off, I knew when it was him coming down the hall by the way he walked. I can still see his face. There are some nights I cannot sleep because I can still see his face.”

Emma says she reported the abuse to staff at Harley Place but was told she was “making things up”. She tried to run away to her aunt’s house but she was always returned to the care home where Jim would be in charge of ‘punishment’.

Emma said: “When I was returned Jim would be the one responsible for punishing me. I would be grounded, sent to my room or have pocket money taken from me. In order to keep me quiet Jim would not deduct my pocket money. He tried to use this as hush money or give me sweets. He knew what he was doing.”

Emma was also sent to live with foster families for short spells. Earlier this year Emma told the Herald how she was abused at the hands of one of her foster dads, James Fairns.

Vile Fairns, now 75, preyed on vulnerable kids in his care, including Emma, whilst posing as a loving foster father to authorities in order to get youngsters into his then home in Cunninghame Road, where he would subject them to horrific sexual abuse, neglect and torture.

He was jailed for four years following a trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in July.

Now brave Emma has spoken out again about the abuse she experienced as a child in the care system in the hopes that she might inspire others to come forward.

She said: “When Jim first tried to rape me I managed to get away and tried to report it to another member of staff. She told me I was making things up and palmed me off. By the time I reported it (to police) Jim was already dead.”

Emma has also reported the abuse to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry who are looking into Emma’s story as part of a wider abuse scandal in the foster care system.

Daniel Canning from Thompsons Solicitors who represents Ms Orderley said: “My client has shown a great deal of bravery coming forward to talk publicly about the abuse she suffered at Harley Place. We are behind her all the way as she continues to fight for justice. I believe that many other survivors of abuse at this establishment are out there suffering in silence. I would urge them to come forward so we can hold to account those who failed in their responsibility to protect vulnerable children.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on this matter at this stage.”