Sir, – There seems to be much confusion over whether the McAleese report was an “inquiry” into what happened in Magdalene laundries, or an “inquiry” into whether State agencies were involved in the incarceration of girls and women in these institutions. For clarification it was the latter.
This being so, Martin McAleese has somewhat mudied the waters in approaching issues that were not part of his remit. He endeavoured to report on additional aspects of women experiences, in doing so he minimised those experiences.
The report’s view that “many” girls/women entered voluntarily (sic), that “many” were “short stays” (therefore implying not so egregious) and that there was no sexual abuse reported by victims who gave information to the McAleese team simply adds fodder to those who wish to deny what actually happened therein. Furthermore, the statistically low numbers of women who told of their experiences to the McAleese team does not prove that the above “findings” are true or indeed valid.
We now need a statutory inquiry into the experiences of women in these institutions with a wider numerical basis to enable a proper analysis of those women’s experiences. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – While welcoming Enda Kenny’s apology, I am disappointed that the thread of his speech was to cast blame on society. The God fearing Irish people were downtrodden by the ruling classes operating through the State and the supreme rulers the Catholic Church.
We have come accustomed to politicians referring to the “public”, now we hear “society” used as a faceless form to deflect responsibility away from State.
The State humiliated, degraded and inflicted cruelty on the Magdalene girls and women and for this the State should be truly sorry. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – How foolish and gullible were all these religious in years gone by to be used by governments and families – carrying the can – looking after abandoned women and orphans.
They should have thrown it all up – sent the women back to their uncaring families and said to the government: “We are getting out – this problem is your problem”, but they listened instead to St Paul “we are fools for Christ’s sake”. – Yours, etc,