Irish report finds heavy government involvement in Magdalene Laundries
February 05, 2013
An official report has found that the Irish government was deeply involved in the Magdalene Laundries.
After a scandal arose over reports that many women had experience abuse and mistreatment in the Magdalene Laundries—institutions that housed young women who were homeless, delinquent, or otherwise in trouble—the government commissioned an 18-month study of the institutions. The resulting report, released February 5, showed that between 1922 and 1996, the government had sent more than 2,500 young women into the institutions.
The investigative report shows that although the Magdalene Laundries were administered by religious orders, the government played an important role and bore responsibility for the treatment women received.
The lengthy report could provide grounds for former residents of the Magdalene Laundries to press for compensation from the government. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny issued an official apology for the government’s role after the report was made public.
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Further information:
- Report: Ireland Oversaw Abusive Catholic Laundries (AP)
- Magdalene Laundries report finds direct State involvement (Irish Journal)
- Magdalene Laundries: Ireland PM Apologises (Sky)
- Ending myths about Ireland's Magdalene Laundries (CWN, 6/17/11)
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Posted by: chady -
Feb. 06, 2013 7:55 AM ET USA
UK News media has made a big thing out of this again taking the opportunity to criticise the Catholic Church. People in glass houses....In the 1980s UK Mental Institutions were closed. The souls relocated into core and cluster units in the community some had been have been similarly treated. Some people were placed because of long term mental illness. I encountered others who had been placed there because of learning/physical/developmental disability. Many had been abused or poorly cared for.
