Shameful treatment of Ireland’s ‘white salves’

HAVING listened to Live Line over the last few days about the dreadful conditions those “fallen” women of the Magdalene Laundries endured I am almost in tears.

You see, I was one of those babies and ever since I have had a “chip” on my shoulder.

When I hear how my mother, may she rest in peace, and others were treated, I feel very angry with the type of society I was born and reared in.

Today this government perpetuates this misery on these women by forcing them to seek documentation to prove they were “white slaves” in these laundries.

Changing the terminology from “employees” to “workers” makes very little difference.

One lady did admit she received remuneration in the form of a packet of mint drops and a holy picture – does this absolve Minister of Education Batt O’Keefe and the Government of all financial and moral responsibilities?

Today, this government can hand out billions to bail out banks and their developer friends.

They pay out millions to individuals in handshakes and ministerial expenses yet when it comes to these poor unfortunate women, they turn their backs on them.

Incidentally, I met my mother for the first time when I was 35 years of age and it was no thanks to the Nuns of the Sacred Heart Convent in Bessboro, Blackrock, Co Cork.

Leo Armstrong

Prosperous

Naas

Co Kildare