Benign report plays down harsh, brutal regimes

The McAleese report into the Magdalene Laundries does admit that the State was complicit in sending women to and keeping them at the laundries, but it clearly plays down the harsh, brutal regime that survivors have long reported ruled there.

There was a stark contrast yesterday between the horrific stories we have heard over many years from the survivors of the Magdalene laundries and the report that was published yesterday.

The committee found no evidence that unmarried girls had babies there or that many of the girls were prostitutes. It found no evidence of torture or physical abuse. Martin McAleese has gone so far as to say that some of the women had “confused” their negative experiences in the industrial schools with their time at the laundries. The committee also stated that anybody who came to the homes via the State, from social services and the criminal justice system, were not locked up indefinitely but were aware why they were there and when they would leave.