A couple who at one time ran a Gloucestershire children's home have denied a total of 34 charges of child cruelty involving 17 boys.
At Gloucester Crown Court last Friday, Michael Quinlan, aged 62, of Legion House, Cheltenham Road, Evesham, was accused of ill-treating the boys, all aged under 16, between 1971 and 1979.
His former wife, Nichola McGrail, 54, of Lumbars Lane, Elton, near Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, was charged with neglecting the same boys.
When they were married, the couple ran The Poplars children's home at Newnham-on-Severn looking after boys who had been placed in the care of local authorities throughout England and Wales.
A police investigation into the running of the home involved recorded delivery letters being sent to more than 250 men who spent part of their childhood at The Poplars.
After entering their not guilty pleas to the charges, the couple were released on bail for court officials to arrange for a jury trial.
The trial is expected to last up to 12 weeks and which will be held in Bristol.
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