Four years after the establishment of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission, the focus of its investigation has clearly moved away from Tuam and onto other headline-generating institutions like Bessborough and Sean Ross Abbey, writes Conall Ó Fátharta.

‘Just for Mams’ is an initiative which aims to help improve the self-esteem of mothers, writes Áilín Quinlan.

Catherine Corless forced an official inquiry, but it seems that the HSE had already been aware of some of the disturbing allegations about Bessborough and Tuam for some time, writes Conall Ó Fatharta.

Let down yet again, ageing survivors of the Magdalene laundries have suffered unnecessary pain in the past few years, writes Claire McGettrick.

Just 33 out of 187 Magdalene women listed on the headstone for High Park laundry in Glasnevin Cemetery are actually buried at that location, a study claims.

Over 1,600 women died in Magdalene laundries — more than double the figure cited by the McAleese report.

The Government was “conscious of the danger” of offering redress for Magdalene survivors just months before setting up the McAleese inquiry to investigate the issue.

Magdalene women are being forced accept smaller compensation payments because the State believes the religious orders over survivors regarding how long they spent in the laundries.

A grave just discovered by the Justice for Magdalenes group shows that, in one plot in North Dublin alone, a third of the woman buried remained at the Magdalene laundry for more than 50 years.

Justice for Magdalenes has strongly criticised draft legislation that deals with the entitlements of those given compensation for their suffering in the laundries.

An extensive critique of the McAleese Report into the Magdalene laundries could be published by the year end, according to the Justice for Magdalenes (JFM).

Half of the women at one Magdalene laundry in the 1950s and 1960s never left the institution again but died years later behind the convent walls, according to research which strongly contradicts the Martin McAleese report.

Justice for Magdalenes Research says justice not only requires prompt provision of compensation, pensions, healthcare, and other benefits, but also the truth about what happened in the laundries

A number of Magdalene survivors have been offered state compensation payments reflecting much shorter lengths of stay than the women endured.

Justice For Magdalenes (JFM) Research has hit out at the Government’s response to UN criticism’s of the McAleese report as “an outrage” which “beggars belief”.

The Government’s recent tough talk that religious orders should pay compensation to Magdalene survivors is at odds with its stance on the McAleese report, writes Conall Ó Fátharta

The UN committee which forced the Government to investigate the Magdalene Laundries has criticised the McAleese report into them as “incomplete” and lacking “many elements of a prompt, independent, and thorough investigation”.

The Adoption Rights Alliance is considering going to the United Nations in order to force the State to grant adopted people the same rights as every other Irish citizen.

The survivors advocacy group, Justice for Magdalenes, has announced the end of its political campaign as its twin objectives of an official state apology and the establishment of a compensation scheme have been achieved.

Almost 500 survivors of Magdalene Laundries have applied to be included in the planned compensation fund.

TO celebrate International Women’s Day today, Third Age would like to honour and praise several influential Irish women who have changed our society and lives for the better.

The first of the Magdalene advocacy groups is to meet Mr Justice John Quirke on Tuesday to discuss the redress scheme for survivors of Magdalene Laundries.

There were scenes of joy and gratitude outside Leinster House last night as victims cheered and whooped following the Taoiseach’s apology for the State and the people of Ireland’s involvement in the Magdalene laundries.

Justice for Magdalenes has this evening welcomed the apology by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Conall Ó Fátharta asks if we can expect more than just ‘sorry’

Survivors of the Magdalene laundries have said they expect to be told details of a compensation scheme alongside an anticipated state apology by the Government.

A religious order which listed four Magdalene women as being buried in two different locations has amended the headstone.

An apology for the State’s role in the Magdalene Laundries would be “an enormous step forward”, say victims who believe it would allow the healing process to begin.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will meet with survivors of the Magdalene Laundries today to hear their stories.

The Justice for Magdalenes group is seeking clarifications before it decides if it will attend a meeting with the Taoiseach.

The fallout from the McAleese Report is sure to continue, says Conall Ó Fátharta

Justice for Magdalenes have questioned how the Government can pass legislation to liquidate a bank in a matter of hours but need yet more time to issue an apology to Magdalene survivors.

A few things that need to be put to bed about the McAleese Report and the Taoiseach’s refusal to issue an apology to the women incarcerated in the Magdalene Laundries.

Four orders that ran Magdalene laundries made €296m from property deals, write Claire O’Sullivan and Conor Ryan

Victims groups have accused the McAleese committee of not being “transparent” by springing interviews on survivors without prior knowledge and weakening the inquiry by not issuing a public call for victims to come forward.

The stigma and suffering of former residents of the Magdalene Laundries has been “prolonged” by the Government’s failure to apologise for what happened, victims said.

Campaign group Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of cruelty and ineptitude in his refusal to apologise to the survivors of Magdalene laundries.

More than 10,000 women spent time in Magdalene Laundries across the country between 1922 and 1996.

Survivors of the Magdalene laundries have quickly rejected the Taoiseach's apology, and demanded a fuller and more frank admission from government and the religious orders involved.

Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) has expressed hope that the McAleese report published later today will lead to an apology and redress for those who suffered in the Magdalene Laundries.

Survivors of Catholic-run workhouses in Ireland are awaiting an apology from state and church over their forced detention in the institutions.

A religious order has refused to offer any explanation as to why four women who died in its care are named as being buried in two different locations.

TOMORROW’S Magdalene laundries’ report is the last chance the 1,000 or so survivors still alive have to get the public vindication they crave.

Many believe that it was the Government decision to make Senator Martin McAleese chairman of the interdepartmental group that brought the religious orders on board.

‘WE should make every effort to induce them to remain in the asylum... where they are assured of the grace of a happy death.”

Justice for Magdalenes has reacted angrily to the announcement that a report investigating State involvement with the institutions is to be delayed for a third time.

Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) has hit out at Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s refusal to confirm when he will publish a report probing state involvement with the institutions.

THE 145 pages of Justice for Magdalene’s submission to the inter-departmental committee investigating State involvement in the Magdalene Laundries makes you ashamed to be Irish.

A report on state involvement in the conditions in the Magdalene Laundries will be submitted to Government by the end of the year.

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