The UN torture committee has been told of failings in the oversight of Irish prisons, the investigation of complaints of ill treatment and prison healthcare.

THE decision by Finian McGrath, minister of state with responsibility for disabilities, to scrap the terms of reference for the inquiry into the case of the woman known as ‘Grace’ is indicative of a Government confused, bewildered and in disarray in attempting to deal comprehensively with historic and ongoing ill-treatment of our most vulnerable citizens.

The Department of Justice has said it has received the report about a potential redress scheme for survivors of 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.

Campaigners fear many of the survivors of the Magdalene laundries will be dead before the State compensates the estimated 1,000 women who were locked up by the nuns.

The Justice for Magdalenes group said today that survivors of abuse are still waiting for an apology, one year on from a UN reccommendation.

Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) has hit out at the Government’s failure to provide redress and an independent investigation into the abuse carried out in Magdalene Laundries.

JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter is under pressure to announce an inquiry into the detention and abuse of women at the Magdalene Laundries after the UN criticised the state’s failure to protect the women and called for a thorough investigation and compensation scheme.

THE campaign for justice for the Magdalenes, for the so-called “fallen women” who were grossly mistreated in a chain of laundries run by nuns, has been resoundingly vindicated by the call for an independent investigation into the scandal from the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT).

The United Nations Committee Against Torture has called for an independent investigation into the Magdalene Laundries and allegations of abuse there.

A UN committee urged the Government to set up an independent investigation into human rights violations in the Magdalene Laundries and give redress to the women who suffered because of the institutions.

THE advocacy group seeking justice for women kept at Magdalene laundries will today take their campaign to the United Nations Committee Against Torture.

New legislation for an inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane could be used to suppress the truth in all future public inquiries, it was claimed today.

Israel has resumed systematic torture of Palestinian detainees, three human rights groups say in a joint report.