Magdalenes Go Global in Justice Battle

By Cormac Murphy
The Herald
February 7, 2013

http://www.herald.ie/news/magdalenes-go-global-in-justice-battle-29054489.html

SURVIVORS of the Magadalene Laundries say they have been inundated with messages of support from all around the world in their fight for justice.

ADVOCACY group Justice for Magdalenes, which wants an official apology and compensation for the women, has issued a stark warning to Enda Kenny today that they are not going away until they get a fair deal for survivors.

The group has also called on Irish people living all over the world to lobby the Taoiseach.

The call comes following the publication of former senator Dr Martin McAleese's report on the State's involvement in the institutions.

Mr Kenny has yet to offer a full State apology, saying instead that the Government needs time to digest the findings of the 1,000-page document.

But Claire McGettrick, of the Magdalenes group, said: "We are absolutely not going away. The amount of support that has come in, not just in Ireland but all over the world, has been incredible. We've done interviews in the UK, America and Australia. The international media are just all over this.

"I don't think they (the Government) want this image of their country going out around the world," Ms McGettrick said.

However, she welcomed the Labour Parliamentary Party statement which said the treatment inflicted on the women was a historical wrong that had to be put right.

Ms McGettrick said Mr Kenny's remorse fell short of an official admission of culpability on behalf of the State.

"This State colluded with the nuns over the torture and incarceration of these women. If they were inspected (by State officials) why was a blind eye turned?" she said. The group intends to discuss concrete actions shortly to put pressure on the Government.

Contact: comurphy@herald.ie