Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Women expect Magdalene apology after ‘teary’ meeting with Kenny

Former residents of the Magdalene Laundries said they expect to get a full state apology for what happened, following a “teary” three-hour meeting with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
Enda Kenny told the women “I believe you”, according to one survivor, Maureen Sullivan. 

“Now at the end of the day, all we ask for is two words: ‘I’m sorry’,” she said.

However, they will have to wait until next week, despite a Dáil motion today during which Fianna Fáil will attempt to put pressure on Mr Kenny to apologise without further delay.

Mr Kenny will not want to issue such an important statement on Fianna Fáil’s terms. 


Instead, he is expected to deliver the apology on Feb 19, when the report on the laundries by Martin McAleese is due to be discussed

Advocacy group Magdalene Survivors Together said the apology should have happened when the 1,000-page report was published last week.

“The women always said this had happened to them, they wanted to be vindicated on that day,” said spokesman Steven O’Riordan. “Whether the apology comes the day of the report or two weeks’ time, it looks like it will happen and from our perspective, that’s an enormous step forward.”

The apology on Feb 19 would be an “ideal scenario”, he said, because women would be travelling from around the country and from Britain to attend a Dáil discussion on the report expected on that day.

Six women took part in the meeting and said Mr Kenny was “very kind and sympathetic, he said he would do his best”.

One of the women, Marina Gambold, said they all “cried a tear” as they related their stories to Mr Kenny and told him that their healing process would not be complete until they got an apology.