ANALYSIS: The people should say sorry too
THE revelations in the McAleese report on the Magdalene Laundries have once again “shocked” an Irish public, appeased only by the Taoiseach’s detailed apology and promise of full redress. Hopefully, there will be no more denials, no more indifference, and no more attempts to suppress what has been known for years. But are we still engaged in a whitewash?
Is the State really to be held responsible for the conduct of one-time enclosed religious orders, who, for many years were accountable to nobody and practically a law unto themselves? Is their reputation in this matter to emerge untarnished? Are we satisfied that from the 1920s on, proper government inspection of Magdalene Laundries was carried out (on behalf of state referrals only — other inmates being denied even this meagre protection) when at the very same time, inspections of closely linked industrial schools proved so woefully inadequate? And are we really to believe that despite the testimony of many stricken women over recent years, the committee in its investigations found no evidence of abuse?
