Women seek inclusion in laundry redress scheme

Four women who claim they were used as forced labour in a Magdalene Laundry but who have been excluded from the Government compensation scheme have launched a High Court challenge.

A judge yesterday was told the basis for excluding the women from the scheme set up two years ago is that while it was accepted they worked at the St Mary’s Refuge Magdalene Laundry, at the High Park Convent, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, they were not admitted to it.

They had been admitted to An Grianan Institution, which was on the grounds of the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge, also at High Park, Grace Park Rd, in Drumcondra. An Grianan was deemed a separate and specific institution to the laundry.