An Grianán not included in scheme

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has reiterated that An Grianán “served a different purpose” to High Park Magdalene laundry — despite HSE evidence stating they were “one and the same thing”.

The revelation was contained in a HSE memo sent by the then assistant director of the Children and Family Services Phil Garland, to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs representative on the McAleese committee, Denis O’Sullivan, and the national director of the Children and Family Services at the HSE, Gordon Jeyes, on June 26, 2012, while the HSE was examining the laundries issue as part of the McAleese inquiry.

In the memo, Mr Garland points out the HSE had uncovered evidence which showed “quite categorically” An Grianán and High Park Magdalene Laundry, which were on the same site in Drumcondra in Dublin, were “to all intents and purposes one and the same thing”.