AFTER A NUMBER of delays, the Magdalene Laundry report will be published on Tuesday, 5 February by the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

The report, which had been delayed on three separate occasions over a seven month period, is expected to be broken down into four categories representing the four religious orders that managed the laundries – the Good Shepherds, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Charity and Our Sisters of Our Lady of Charity.

The Inter-Departmental Committee, chaired by Senator Martin McAleese, was set up to establish the facts of the State’s involvement with the institutions following a recommendation from the United Nations Committee Against Torture (UNCAT). That body said it was “gravely concerned” at the failure of the State to protect girls and women who were involuntarily confined between 1922 and 1996.

Steven O’ Riordan, head of the Magdalene Survivors Together group told TheJournal.ie:

From our perspective and from member’s stories it is clear that the State was involved.

Ultimately our members want an apology from the Government but not until the report becomes public will we know what action is needed.

An independent inquiry will be considered by government on reading the final report.

Read: Report on Magdalen Laundries to be published soon >