Clouding the facts

IN response to the letter (October 29) on the Magdalene homes from the Women’s History Association (WHA), let me say that while it is true the conditions most of these young women worked under were deplorable by today’s standards, it still must be remembered the times in which these events took place.

To suggest that those in charge of the institutions were guilty of “forced labour” and “incarcerating” children does a great disservice to the facts and brings discredit to the WHA. When one uses hyperbole on such a sensitive issue it can cloud the facts under debate.

Vincent J Lavery