In March the Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, apologised on behalf of the state for its role in the Magdalene Laundries. An apology that was welcomed by Peter Garsden, Principal at Simpson Millar and President of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL).
Some 10,000 women and girls were made to do unpaid manual labor in laundries run by Roman Catholic nuns in Ireland between 1922 and 1996. The apology came after a 1,000 plus page report was released detailing the way women and girls were treated as virtual slaves. The Irish state have announced a compensation package for around 800 women still alive who were held in laundries across Ireland.
Commenting, Mr Garsden, whose firm successfully obtained compensation for more than 80 clients from the Irish Redress Board, which was set up in 2002 to compensate victims of abuse in Irish Residential Institutions, said: “Many energetic women have campaigned tirelessly for a formal apology to be issued. There will be, however, many others, who have never come forward, and should now consider doing so.”
The Irish state has now confirmed that the planned compensation scheme for survivors will be published in the next two weeks.
If you lived and worked as a laundry worker in one of the Magdalene Laundries you may be entitled to claim compensation. You can receive a free, no-obligation consultation by speaking to one of our male or female specialist solicitors in complete confidence. Call local rate number 0845 604 7075.
My mother was in the magdalene convent In Sean McDermott street in Dublin in the 1940s sadly she is dead I am her son after she got away from the convent she just to send me their all the time looking for food she died a alcoholic it really effected her mind and affected me has her son would I be entitled to any compensation thanks for your time regards tom
I will investigate your inquiry and ask one of our team to reply. Thank you for your interest