Group Submits Evidence of State's Co-operation with Magdalene Laundries

RTE News
May 28, 2012

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0528/group-claims-state-worked-with-magdalene-laundries.html

The Justice for Magdalenes group has called for a State apology and compensation

The group said the evidence strengthens the case for an immediate State apology and compensation to former detainees.

Last year the UN Committee Against Torture strongly criticised the Government's failure to apologise to and compensate former detainees of the State's 10 Catholic-run Magdalene laundries.

Today some 500 pages of testimony - gathered in recent months from 13 survivors - was given to the McAleese Committee, which was established by the Government in response to the UN's criticisms.

Justice for Magdalenes said it acknowledged the important work being done by Senator Martin McAleese at the request of the Government to ascertain the exact nature of the State's involvement with the laundries.

However it insists this should not impede access by the hundreds of women involved to an apology and redress in the twilight of their lives.

The Department of Justice responded by saying the Government would decide its course of action after considering and publishing Dr McAleese's report this summer.