FOUR RELIGIOUS congregations which ran the 10 Magdalene laundries in
this State between 1922 and October 1996, when the last one closed, have
promised their co-operation with any inquiry which may take place.
Last
Monday the UN Committee Against Torture recommended the State “should
institute prompt, independent, and thorough investigations into all
allegations of torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment that were allegedly committed in the Magdalene Laundries”.
The
laundries were operated by the Sisters of Mercy at Galway and Dún
Laoghaire; the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity at Drumcondra and Seán
MacDermott Street in Dublin, the Sisters of Charity at Donnybrook in
Dublin and Cork, and the Good Shepherd Sisters, in Limerick, Cork,
Waterford and New Ross.
All four congregations are members of the
Conference of Religious of Ireland.
In a statement on behalf of
the congregations last Friday, the conference said: “This is a sad,
complex and dark story of Irish society that extends over 150 years. As
the religious congregations, who, in good faith, took over and ran 10
Magdalene homes during part or most of that time and as congregations
still in relationship with many residents and former residents, we are
willing to participate in any inquiry that will bring greater clarity,
understanding, healing and justice in the interests of all the women
involved.”
Prof James Smith of the Justice for Magdalenes group
has said a “redress board style judicial or legal adversarial process”
was “neither appropriate nor practical” given the age profile of
survivors.
The women sought an apology, reparations and access to their records, he said.