News

Magdalene Memorial Committee Asks Where is the Apology for Magdalenes?
Dublin, May 14th 2004

The Magdalene Memorial Committee is appalled that the apology issued by the Sisters of Mercy on May 5th, 2004 did not include those who were incarcerated in Magdalene Laundries. While it is heartened and truly delighted that those who suffered at the hands of the Sisters of Mercy in orphanages and industrial schools have had their pain acknowledged and have
received their apology, the Magdalene Memorial Committee wonders why the Mercy Sisters have neglected to apologise to the women who were in Magdalene Laundries run by the order.

Claire McGettrick, Magdalene Memorial Committee PRO, has expressed the concerns of the group, which campaigns for the rights of survivors of Magdalene Laundries. "You just cannot apologise to one group of people that you have hurt and completely ignore the other. The women who were imprisoned by nuns in Magdalene Laundries have never received an apology, unconditional or otherwise. How long do we have to wait for church and state to take notice?"

Ms. McGettrick, who is adopted, added, "We must never forget that many of the women in Magdalene Laundries are also natural mothers who have lost their children. There are adopted people who lost their mothers because of the Magdalene Laundry system, including the laundries run by the Sisters of Mercy, and they too deserve an apology."

The Magdalene Memorial Committee is calling on the Sisters of Mercy to apologise to the women they incarcerated in their Magdalene Laundries. Furthermore, it asks what the Mercy Sisters plan to do to help the survivors to regain some of the life that has been stolen from them. In addition, it politely asks the other religious orders, church hierarchy and the
Government of Ireland to stop ignoring the issue of the Magdalene Laundries and treat Magdalene survivors with the respect that they deserve.

Back to News