State Magdalene response ‘cynical’

The Government’s response to the UN Committee Against Torture recommendations on the Magdalene Laundries issue has been termed "cynical" and "disingenuous".

The Government had been given one year to report back on measures taken to put last June’s UNCAT recommendation on the laundries into effect.
The committee said it was "gravely concerned" at the failure by the State to protect girls and women who were involuntarily confined in the laundries between 1922 and 1996.

It recommended that the State institute "prompt, independent and thorough investigations" into complaints of torture and other forms of mistreatment in the institutions.

In its response, the Government said those alleging criminal wrongdoing in the laundries "have been consistently advised that if they have any evidence of criminal offences having been committed, they should report the matter to the police for criminal investigation and where appropriate prosecution".

It also said people could initiate a civil action in the courts seeking recompense for any wrongdoing suffered. The response also stressed that, as the laundries were "private, religious institutions", basic facts about their operations "are not in the public domain".

It also said it would consider further action when it received the report of the inter-departmental committee examining State involvement in the laundries.

In a statement, Justice For Magdalene’s said in a statement that the Government’s response to the UNCAT recommendations was "lacking in compassion".

"The Government’s response is disingenuous in suggesting that the women are primarily focused on prosecutions, when what they have sought is an apology and restorative justice.

"It’s one-line invitation suggesting women take civil cases appears cynical and is lacking in compassion and understanding.

"There are barriers to this type of case that are not addressed, such as the statute of limitations, free legal aid provision, the availability of evidence as the religious orders have withheld records, and not least of all the fact that this is a vulnerable and aging population."

JFM has uncovered and published more than 50 examples of the State committing girls as young as 14 to laundries.

In his most recent report, Geoffrey Shannon, special rapporteur on child protection, said the treatment of women and girls in laundries "constituted slavery".