Departments to face Magdalene committee

UP to eight Government departments will be examined as part of an inquiry into the Magdalene Laundries, according to a group representing survivors who met Justice Minister Alan Shatter yesterday.

Dr James Smith of Boston College, who represents the Justice for Magdalenes group, said a committee examining the state’s involvement will begin trawling to the records of various departments next week.

After meeting with the minister yesterday for over two hours yesterday, the survivors also called on the congregations of nuns who ran the institutions to make available all records to the committee, which is chaired by Senator Martin McAleese.