abuse, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Gloria Holdipp was fined $400 with the alternative of a year in prison after admitting assaulting a two-year-old boy eight years ago.

The child, according to court reports, suffered bruising and a cut head after Ms Holdipp slapped him across the face.

But now Ms Holdipp is listed as a contact for the new Seventh Day Adventist-backed nursery -- called Happy Moments -- due to open up in the new term.

And last night one angry mother said: "It's a disgrace -- she should never be placed in a position of responsibility over a child ever again.

"I know all about this incident -- what she got was justice and she should never be allowed to work with children.

"Anybody who does something like that to a child should never be trusted again.

"Perhaps if she had got help regarding this matter, it might make a slight difference -- but I don't know if she has, so I could never trust her.'' Health and Family Services Minister Wayne Furbert added: "This is something I'd want to look into -- and I'll have people do that as soon as possible.

"It would be a concern to me. This is something we need to examine very carefully. We will look at all the circumstances surrounding this.'' Ms Holdipp -- then 30 -- was convicted in Magistrates' Court in December, 1990.

The court heard she cared for three to five children at her then-day centre for youngsters in Devonshire.

Defence lawyer Philip Perinchief said at the time that his client, a first offender, acted in "a moment of frustration'' after the child messed his pants.

And he said she had meant to hit the child's shoulder, but missed and hit his face, cutting it with a bracelet.

Last night Ms Holdipp at first denied that she had caused the child's injuries, blaming a parent.

But -- after a Royal Gazette reporter read out the 1990 report of a court case -- she admitted pleading guilty to the offence.

And she said: "I had no choice -- I didn't have any money to be fighting any court case.'' She added she felt children were safe in her hands and said she had never been in trouble since the 1990 court case.

Ms Holdipp said: "I just want to get on with my life...I have been working with children since then.'' Happy Moments -- advertised over the slogan "Where Happy Children Learn for a Brighter Future''-- is attached to the Mid-land Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hamilton Parish.

It is due to throw an open night on Thursday to celebrate the opening.

The president of the church's Bermuda Conference, Dr. Carlyle C. Simmons is scheduled as guest speaker.

A press release describes the nursery as meeting a need for "quality and affordable child care'' and that it aimed at "education and development of positive self-esteem for two- to five-year-olds...'' COURTS CTS