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Magdalene Laundries Press Releases
Justice for Magdalenes cautiously welcomes Magdalene Inter-Departmental Committee Interim Report
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, has welcomed the interim progress report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalene Laundries. The report was published yesterday by the Department of Justice, with Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter TD, welcoming the co-operation the Committee is receiving from Government Departments, the religious orders and representative groups of women who were formerly resident in the Laundries. He is aware of the complexity of the task involved and notes the Committee’s intention to conclude their work by mid 2012. JFM also acknowledges this work, although remains guarded on several key concerns.
JFM submits Restorative Justice & Reparations Scheme for Magdalene Survivors to Ministers Shatter and Lynch
Justice for Magdalenes submitted a revised "Restorative Justice & Reparations Scheme for Magdalene Laundry Survivors" to Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and Minister for Disability, Equality and Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch. "The submission is part of an ongoing consultative process initiated by both Ministers which JFM hopes will inform the State's actions as the ongoing government investigation moves forward", said Dr. Katherine O'Donnell, Women's Studies, School of Social Justice, UCD and JFM Advisory Committee member.
JFM's proposed Restorative Justice and Reparations Scheme contains four main elements: (1) a state apology, (2) a dedicated unit within the Department of Justice for survivors of Magdalene Laundries, (3) a Commission for Financial Reparation (involving a conditional extension of the Residential Institutions Redress Board), and (4) preservation of the historical record.
Read entire press release >>
Read the Restorative Justice & Reparations Scheme >>
JFM has positive first meeting with Ministers Shatter and Lynch
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, met this morning with Minister for Justice, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., and Minister for State, Ms. Kathleen Lynch, T.D. The meeting took place at the Department of Justice Headquarters, St. Stephen’s Green. Joining JFM at the meeting were Councillor Sally Mulready and Ms. Phyllis Morgan, from the Irish Women’s Survivors’ Network, which meets at the London Irish Centre.
JFM Welcomes Appointment of Chair for Inter-departmental Committee on Magdalene Laundries
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, welcomes the government’s announcement today of Dr. Martin McAleese as the Chair of the Inter-Departmental Committee that will seek to clarify State interaction with the Magdalene Laundries. Dr. McAleese was recently appointed as a Taoiseach’s nominee to the Seanad and is the husband of President Mary McAleese.
JFM to meet with Ministers Shatter and Lynch and hold public forum
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, will meet with Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter and Minister for State, Kathleen Lynch, next week as part of the government's proposed series of meetings with "groups representing former residents of the Magdalene Laundries."
JFM will also conduct a public forum on Tuesday, 5th July, at UCD's Humanities Institute of Ireland on the Belfield Campus. Beginning at 10 a.m. in the "Seminar Room," JFM will present its Narrative of State Interaction with the Magdalene Laundries to members of the public and to survivors, who are welcome to attend.
JFM supports Bethany Survivors in rejecting Ruairi Quinn refusal to include Bethany Home survivors in redress scheme
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, stands with and supports survivors of the Bethany Home in their rejection of a recent statement by Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn. Minister Quinn turned down the survivors' request to have the Home included in the Schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. They met the Minister on 24 May last, accompanied by other survivors from the home and by Niall Meehan from Griffith College Dublin.
JFM welcomes Magdalene inquiry announcement and pledges to participate
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, welcomes the government’s announcement this evening, in particular the establishment of an Inter-departmental Committee, chaired by an independent person, and we see this as a further positive step to bringing “Restorative Justice and Reparations” to all survivors of the Magdalene Laundries.
Much work remains to be done, however, and JFM looks forward to working with both the State and the religious congregations in the coming weeks and months to bring about a prompt and timely resolution to this “restorative and reconciliation process”. JFM has already proposed a structure that might be utilized to facilitate this process, which the UN Committee Against Torture has recommended that the government examine more closely.
Read entire press release >>
Read the full Government Statement >>
JFM welcomes UN Committee recommendation for statutory inquiry and redress for Magdalenes, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators
The UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) today issued its "Concluding Observations" following the first examination of the Irish State under the UN Convention Against Torture. The Committee reiterated its calls for an independent investigation into the Magdalene Laundries abuse and redress for the women who suffered. It also recommended that the State "prosecute and punish the perpetrators with penalties commensurate with the gravity of the offences committed."
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, is now calling on the Irish State to act immediately on foot of UNCAT’s recommendations and issue a formal apology to all survivors of the Magdalene Laundries and immediately establish a statutory inquiry into these abuses.
NWCI again urges women politicians to support Justice for Magdalenes
Susan McKay, CEO of the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI), is writing to all women TDs, Senators, and Local Councillors encouraging them to support Justice of Magdalene's (JFM) proposed Restorative Justice and Reparations Scheme for all survivors of the Magdalene Laundries. McKay's letter reminds women politicians that:
"JFM is calling for; an apology from the State and the religious orders who ran the Magadalen laundries, a lump sum compensation scheme for women survivors, a statutory pension reflecting their years of work in the laundry institutions, and complete access to their records…The National Women’s Council supports this call for justice."
UN Committee reiterates call for independent investigation and redress for Magdalene Laundry abuses
The UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) today repeated its requests for an independent investigation into the Magdalene Laundries abuse and redress for the women who suffered. During the same UNCAT session today, the Irish government was responding to a series of questions asked yesterday as part of the examination by the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Seán Aylward, Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, and Head of the Irish Delegation, began by responding to questions about the government’s failure to investigate and provide redress for abuses in Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries.
UN calls on Ireland to investigate Magdalene Laundries abuse
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, is calling on the Irish government to act immediately on foot of calls from members of the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) for an independent investigation into human rights violations in the Magdalene Laundries and redress for the women who suffered.
The United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) today examined Ireland for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland. Today’s examination follows the "closed" NGO Briefing Session on Friday last, when JFM was invited to make a statement before the Committee (copy attached, below). Tomorrow afternoon, the Committee will hear responses from the Irish government delegation to the questions asked today.
Justice for Magdalenes makes statement before UN Committee Against Torture in Geneva
The United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) has invited Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, to make a statement as part of the "NGO Briefing Session" in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday, 20th May 2011. Maeve O’Rourke (Harvard LL.M., Harvard Law School 2010 Global Human Rights Fellow) will represent JFM in Geneva.
UNCAT is due to examine Ireland for the first time on the extent to which it is meeting its human rights obligations to prevent torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, on Monday and Tuesday, 23rd and 24th May, 2011. Friday’s Briefing Session affords NGOs the opportunity to inform the Committee on issues prior to the subsequent government examination.
JFM makes submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, has made a formal submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. The Committee Against Torture is due to examine Ireland for the first time on the extent to which it is meeting its human rights obligations to prevent torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on 23rd and 24th May 2011.
JFM's submission draws attention to Ireland's legal duties under the Convention Against Torture to promptly and impartially investigate allegations of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and to ensure redress for the victims of such treatment.
Read entire press release >>
Read the JFM submission to the Convention Against Torture >>
Read the JFM submission to the United Nations Periodic Review >>
JFM presents "Restorative Justice and Reparations Scheme" to government
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, has submitted a revised "Restorative Justice and Reparations Scheme" to Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, T.D., updating the July 2009 proposed scheme, which began the group's current campaign. The revised scheme reflects JFM's ongoing dialogue and consultation with individual survivors in Ireland, the US and the UK. The latter includes the Irish Women's Survivors Support Network located at the London Irish Centre, which is led by London based Labour Councillor Sally Mulready.
Read entire press release >>
Read the Restorative Justice and Reparations Scheme>>
JFM calls on election candidates to declare support for survivors of Magdalene Laundrie
Oireachtas Ad Hoc Committee on the Magdalene Laundries issues statement of support
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, calls on all candidates contesting the General Election to publicly commit to bringing about justice for Magdalene women.
Three months ago today the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) published its assessment of abuses in the Magdalene laundries. On the same day, the Taoiseach referred the report to the Attorney General for review and evaluation. Nothing has been heard since. The outgoing government leaves a legacy of total failure to act on behalf of this group of vulnerable citizens.
Read entire press release >>
Read the Ad Hoc Oireachtas Committee Statement of Support>>
Read the original IHRC Statement, 09 November 2011>>
Download and print our election flyer, and get involved!
Related Articles:
Read a discussion of the PR at Fairocracy.com >>
Prof. James Smith's recent letter to the Examiner on PaddyDoyle.com >>
JFM welcomes IHRC call for statutory enquiry on the Magdalene Laundries
Survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) welcomes the Irish Human Rights Commission’s (IHRC) validation of the evidence submitted in seeking a formal inquiry into the State’s responsibility for human rights violations in the Magdalene Laundries. JFM’s submission argues that the treatment of the women and girls in the Laundries violated their constitutional rights, including the right to bodily integrity, the right not to be tortured or ill-treated, the right to earn a livelihood, the right to communicate, the right to individual privacy, the right to travel, the right to one’s good name and the right to one’s person.
Read entire press release >>
Read full IHRC statement >>
Read JFM's campaign history
Justice for Magdalenes calls on Galway City Council to reverse its decision regarding Magdalene memorial statue
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), an advocacy group for survivors of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, urges Galway City Council to reverse its decision to remove a statue memorialising the women who lived, worked and, in some cases, died at the Sisters of Mercy Magdalene laundry in the city. Dedicated in March 2009, the Mick Wilkins statue was commissioned by the same city councillors who now seek to remove it.
NWCI urges women politicians to support Justice for Magdalenes
At their recent AGM, the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) passed a motion supporting the survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalene's (JFM) campaign to bring about (i) a formal apology and (ii) a distinct redress scheme for all Magdalene survivors. This week Susan McKay, Director of NWCI, is writing to all women TDs, Senators, and Local Councillors to urge them to support JFM's call for justice. McKay's letter reminds women politicians that:
"Justice must be done and a clear and resounding message must emanate from Government that the treatment of these women and their children was a severe violation of their human rights."
Government exploring an apology for Magdalene survivors while denying any State liability
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, met with Department of Justice officials who the government have designated “to take the lead role and coordinate” the State’s response to the Magdalene issue. JFM’s ongoing work details extensive, cross-departmental, State involvement in the operation and function of the Magdalene institutions.
Cardinal Brady hopes Catholic religious will engage with Justice for Magdalenes (JFM)
Cardinal Sean Brady followed his assertion on April 1st, 2010 that he wanted a “just solution” for Magdalene survivors with an invitation to JFM to meet with him to further discuss "a pathway forward." Today (Thursday, 24 June), a delegation from survivor advocacy group JFM met with the Cardinal and key members of the Bishops’ Conference committee who work with survivors of institutional abuse.
Justice for Magdalenes Submits Human Rights Application
Survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) today met with the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and Amnesty International Ireland.
JFM applied to the IHRC to conduct a formal enquiry into the State’s obligation to apologise to and provide redress for survivors of the laundries. The IHRC welcomed the submission and agreed to examine the arguments involved as soon as possible, given the time-sensitive nature of the issues for many survivors.
View photos from this event online.
Pressure Mounts on Cowen as Fianna Fáil TDs Deliver Petition Demanding Justice for Magdalenes
Fianna Fáil TDs Tom Kitt and Michael Kennedy today personally delivered to Brian Cowan the first 1,000 signatures from an online petition demanding a State apology and distinct redress scheme for survivors of the Magdalene laundries.
View photos from this event online.
Pressure Mounts on Cowen as 1,000 Sign Petition Demanding Justice for Magdalenes
Pressure is mounting on national and international fronts for An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, as over 1,000 people sign an online petition demanding a State apology and distinct redress scheme for survivors of the Magdalene laundries. The petition is sponsored by survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), who say that the number of signatories is growing every day.
One year after the Ryan Report, Irish Government still shirks responsibility for the Magdalene Laundries
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) — a survivor advocacy group — says that the government continues to shirk its responsibility towards survivors of the Magdalene laundries. JFM has launched an online petition and a direct e-mail campaign, both addressed to Mr. Cowen, demanding that he provide leadership on this issue. Almost 450 people have already registered their outrage at the State's inaction. JFM asks the people of Ireland to join us in sending an unmistakable message demanding justice for this community of survivors. Doing so underscores that the work of the Ryan Report is yet incomplete.
Press release issued on behalf of Bethany Home survivors: Bethany Home Children's Graves discovered; Former residents call for memorial at gravesite; Bethany Home Survivors Group launched
A Dublin Cemetery has been discovered as the gravesite of forgotten children from the Bethany Home Dublin. Bethany Home was associated with the Church of Ireland and Church of Ireland missionary society, the Irish Church missions to Roman Catholics. It operated in Blackhall Place, Dublin, from 1921-34 and in Orwell Road, Rathgar, until it closed in 1972. The Bethany Home was a combined maternity home, children’s home and place of detention for women convicted of petty theft, prostitution, and infanticide and birth concealment.
Taoiseach dismisses abuse of children in Magdalene Laundries – JFM outraged
Mr. Cowen was responding to a series of Parliamentary Questions (copy below) tabled on behalf of Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor-advocacy group, by Mr. Michael Kennedy, T.D. (FF) [27 April 2010]. According to Mr. Cowen, the government contends "that the position of women in such laundries was not analogous with that of children in the residential institutions that were the subject of the Ryan Report."
Justice for Magdalenes Urges Minister for Finance to Recover Taxes from Religious Orders
Survivor advocacy group, Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) has written to Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan proposing a means of securing the necessary funds to facilitate, in part, a redress scheme for Magdalene Laundry survivors.
It is JFM's belief that no taxes were ever paid for women and girl "workers" in the Magdalene laundries. This assertion is in light of survivor testimony provided to JFM as well as responses to parliamentary questions from Minister Lenihan and (then) Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin. Minister Lenihan has declined, on the basis of "confidentiality," to respond to a query about the payment of taxes for women and girls who were put to work in Magdalene laundries. Mary Hanafin confirmed however that PRSI payments were not made.
Justice for Magdalenes challenges Taoiseach after meeting with Minister for Health
Minister for Health, Mary Harney received evidence of her department's complicity in referring women to Magdalene Laundries from mother and baby homes at a meeting with the survivor advocacy group, Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) today (Thursday 25th March 2010).
At the meeting, JFM presented evidence, dating to the 1930s, that the Department of Local Government and Public Health's official policy was to transfer women from State-funded mother and baby homes and County Homes into Magdalene Laundries. In December 2009 the Department of Justice accepted that the State was always aware that there was no statutory basis for confining women within these institutions.
Department of Education acknowledges its awareness of children in Magdalene laundries
Senior officials in the Department of Education have confirmed the Department's awareness of children being confined in Magdalene laundries as late as 1970. The admission came during a meeting with the survivor advocacy group, Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), on Tuesday morning, 2 February 2010...
Read more >>
Read Minister O'Keeffe's mailed letter to JFM >>
Minister acknowledges State complicity as Department meets with Justice for Magdalenes
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), the survivor advocacy group, will meet with officials in the Department of Education on Tuesday, 2 February 2010. The meeting follows statements in recent days by the Minister for Education, Mr. Batt O'Keeffe, T.D., revising his earlier assertion that "the State did not refer individuals nor was it complicit in referring individuals to the laundries" (4 September 2009)...
Justice for Magdalenes views 19th January Parliamentary Questions with mixed emotions
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) acknowledges with thanks the work of Mr. Ruairi Quinn, T.D. (Labour Party), in tabling a series of Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann on 19th January...
Issue of women committed to Magdalenes Laundries needs to be resolved
From Joan Burton TD, Labour Spokesperson on Finance: The issue of women who were committed to Magdalenes Laundries is one of the last unresolved issues of the hidden Ireland of institutions, religious orders and the State, so eloquently set out in the Ryan report and a whole series of articles, films and programmes....
Watch Deputy Joan Burton's adjournment
debate on Magdalene Laundries >>
All Party Dáil/Seanad Committee on Magdalenes Formed
The survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) announces that members of the Dáil and Seanad are to form an ad hoc committee to address the issue of redress for those incarcerated in Magdalene Laundries...
Department of Justice Contradicts Education Minister on Magdalenes
The Department of Justice contradicts the Minister for Education's statement that the State "did not refer individuals nor was it complicit in referring individuals to Ireland's Magdalene Laundries"...
Justice for Magdalenes outraged at grave disrespect.
Justice for Magdalenes, the organisation that campaigns for the rights of women incarcerated in Magdalene Laundries, has written to Glasnevin cemetery and the Lord Mayor of Dublin demanding the removal of the storage area that has been erected around the Mecklenburg Street Magdalene grave at Glasnevin Cemetery. The organisation has also written to the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, who have responsibility for the grave....
The Minister for Education, Mr. Batt O'Keeffe, again rejects Justice for Magdalene's proposal for a distinct redress scheme for survivors of the laundries.
Mr. O'Keefe was responding to two written Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann yesterday. The first question was tabled by Mr. Tom Kitt, TD (FF). The second question was tabled by Mr. Willie Penrose, TD (Labour) [Copies Attached]. A copy of Justice for Magdalene's letter to An Taoiseach (dated 22 September 2009) was attached to both questions...
Justice for Magdalenes reacts to the Minister for Education, Mr. Batt O'Keeffe's expression of regret for any offense caused in referring to survivors as the "former employees" of Ireland's Magdalene laundries.
In a letter to Mr. Tom Kitt, TD, dated 23 September 2009, the Minister for Education expressed "deep regret" for earlier referring to women who worked in the Magdalene Laundries as "former employees." His brief letter concluded, "I fully acknowledge that the word 'workers' would have been more appropriate." A copy of Mr. O'Keeffe's letter is attached to this press release...
Letter from Justice for Magdalenes to An Taioseach
'Apology' from Minister Batt O'Keeffe
Labour women support magdalene redress scheme
Labour Women support calls for a separate redress scheme for Magdalene women' says Sinead Ni Chulachain, Labour Women Chair.
Over several decades the Irish state allowed the civil liberties of the women and girls in the Magdalene institutions to be violated, and made no attempt to vindicate the constitutional rights of these citizens.
The Magdalene women were imprisoned, abused, ill-treated and traumatised. Their freedom, identity, ability to make decisions or choices, their motherhood and their fundamental rights as free citizens, were stripped away from them. Surely inflicting any of those sufferings on a person, amounts to a gross violation of one's freedoms.
Therefore those responsible have no choice but to apologise. The state has to take responsibility for its inaction.
The women need to know that they were the victims, not the wrong-doers. We need a dignified and fair way to give the Magdalene laundries closure.
[ENDS]
Justice of Magdalenes has received official notification that the Irish State will neither apologise to survivors of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries nor establish a distinct redress scheme to provide justice for these victims of institutional abuse
Mr. Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education, was responding to draft language towards an Apology and distinct redress scheme circulated by Justice for Magdalenes to all members of Daíl Éireann in early July, 2009. The minister responded in a letter directed to Mr. Tom Kitt, TD, who made representations on our behalf. The Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) members are deeply appreciative of Mr. Kitt's efforts...
Draft Magdalene Redress Act Proposal
Response from Mr. Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education & Science
Justice for Magdalenes committee calls on Government to provide redress for Magdalene survivors
Justice for Magdalenes welcomes the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, 2009: Implementation Plan, and we look forward to witnessing the immediate implementation of the ninety-nine measures outlined therein...
Justice for Magdalenes committee distributes draft language for a distinct redress scheme for survivors of Ireland's Magdalene laundries
The Justice for Magdalenes committee is urging politicians to issue an apology for the state's culpability and its failure to protect the legal rights of women who always remained citizens of the State in Ireland's Magdalene Laundries and also to introduce new legislation to provide redress for this marginalized population...