200 women contact department on redress

Up to 200 women contacted the Department of Justice for information on the Magdalene redress scheme in the 24 hours after the Taoiseach made his groundbreaking apology to the women for the State’s role in their hurt.

Meanwhile, the four religious orders who ran the Laundries have refused to comment on Enda Kenny’s apology, or on how they intend to engage with Mr Justice John Quirke’s redress scheme. It is not yet known how much, if anything, they intend to contribute to the fund being established by the State.

It has also emerged that the Taoiseach met with Magdalene survivors still in the care of the nuns but living in nursing homes in the past fortnight.