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.

"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 boy in the orphanage garage and then given them money. Silvino confessed to some of the crimes but all the other defendants said they were innocent.