Magdalene Laundries motion ‘premature’

The Government has described as “premature” a Sinn Féin Dáil motion seeking an apology from the State to the women of the Magdalene Laundries.

Kathleen Lynch, junior minister at the Department of Health, said the Government “would not make any assertions” in advance of the publication of Senator Martin McAleese’s inter- departmental report into state complicity at the laundries.

Ms Lynch, who staunchly supported the Justice for Magdalene’s campaign while in opposition, said “the facts remain undetermined” as both sides of the Magdalene story had never been told in court or in a tribunal of inquiry.