Coalition fury at Kenny on lack of Magdalene apology

Survivors of the Magdalene Laundries have demanded a meeting with Enda Kenny as the Taoiseach’s refusal to apologise on behalf of the State for their suffering plunged the Coalition into chaos.

Despite Mr Kenny insisting that he needed two weeks to absorb the findings, Labour broke ranks and said an apology was needed now.

Growing outrage at the Taoiseach’s stance saw him branded “cruel” by Sinn Féin, and criticism of the Government’s handling of the Magdalene report voiced a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting.

President Michael D Higgins also made a pointed intervention during his official visit to Italy.

“I think the important thing now is to recognise all the different elements and make an appropriate response,” he said.

“There is the issue of involuntary detention, which is a rights issue; there is the issue [of] labour being taken and perhaps not rewarded.”

Kathleen Lynch, minister of state for mental health, led calls for an apology as the subject dominated a meeting of Labour TDs and senators which saw heavy criticism of Mr Kenny.

TDs present said Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore shared some of the concerns expressed over the lack of an apology.

As the controversy continued, some victims of the laundries said Mr Kenny lacked the “bravery” to give an official apology and attacked his call for “reconciliation”, as they said this implied fault on both sides.

The Magdalene Survivors Together group sought a meeting with the Taoiseach to impress on him their unhappiness at the way the situation was unfolding.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said: “The only effective way for the stigma to be removed by the State is to apologise with no ifs and no buts.”