BOSTON (MA)
Boston College Chronicle
By SEAN SMITH | CHRONICLE EDITOR
Published: July 2, 2013
Last week’s announcement by the Irish government that it will compensate survivors of Ireland’s notorious Magdalene Laundries seemed to conclude one of the country’s most controversial and wrenching scandals.
But a Boston College faculty member who researched the scandal and later became an advocate for the “Magdalenes” says real closure is likely to prove elusive for the women who endured abuse and exploitation in the Catholic Church-run asylums — and that the tragedy’s larger lessons may likewise be lost.
“The compensation scheme offers much that will make a significant impact on the lives of these women and their families,” said Associate Professor of English James Smith. “That is very, very important and should not be discounted. However, this is not, and cannot be, closure — that can only come when the truth is revealed about both the government’s and the Church’s role in the scandal.”
Under the terms of the compensation plan announced on June 26, Magdalene survivors would receive tax-free ex-gratia payments — the amount determined by the how much time the individual was confined — state-funded retirement pensions and free medical care at state facilities. In addition, a dedicated Department of Justice unit will ensure survivors’ easy access to services and supports.
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