Group wants redress scheme for Magdalene Laundries

The Justice for Magdalenes group has made fresh calls for a redress scheme for women and children who lived in the Magdalene Laundries.

Last night, the Government announced it is setting up an investigation into the State's role in the workhouses.

The group is welcoming the move and spokesperson Claire McGettrick hopes the religious orders will co-operate with the new Committee.

But the group said the Government and religious orders need to go one step further and apologise to the single women and their children who worked in the laundries for free.

Last night, the Government announced it will meet with the religious orders who ran them to discuss the handing over of all records.

It follows a UN report which found that the Government should establish an inquiry into allegations of abuse in the ten Magdalene Laundries.

Claire McGettrick of Justice for Magdalenes says a redress scheme also needs to be set up.