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THE UNITED NATIONS committee that put pressure on the Irish government to investigate the Magdalene Laundries system and provide redress to survivors has criticised Martin McAleese’s investigation and subsequent report.
The UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) said it was pleased that an inquiry was finally established and a report published. It also noted that the government had made a full and public apology to residents of the laundries, acknowledging the State’s involvement in their incarceration.
However, UNCAT’s rapporteur for follow-up on concluding observations said the probe “lacked many elements of a prompt, independent and thorough investigation as recommended by the committee”.
“Specifically, the committee has received information from several sources highlighting that the McAleese Report, despite its length and detail, did not conduct a fully independent investigation into allegations of arbitrary detention, forced labour or ill-treatment,” wrote Felice Gaer in a letter to Gerard CORR, the Irish UN representative.
UNCAT has asked for more information about what measures are planned to ensure that there is a fully inquiry into all complaints of abuse and how it intends to ensure the proposed redress fund will be used primarily help victims.
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“… lacked many elements of a prompt, independent and thorough investigation….. ” Hardly surprising in an immoral and bankrupt society such as this. There’s no mood amongst the fiery Irish to honour even the most basic Societal contract which is a pity because we get to be rather poor role models to our kids.
This hatchet-job on the McAleese report seems to have been done before the report was issued. The report is the fullest source of information on the Laundries, and it should have been consulted by the UN folk to correct the glaring inaccuracies in the paragraph they devote to the Laundries. Here is Senator McAleese summary of the findings: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/2013Magdalen-Introduction%20by%20the%20Independent%20Chair%20(PDF%20-%2082KB).pdf/Files/2013Magdalen-Introduction%20by%20the%20Independent%20Chair%20(PDF%20-%2082KB).pdf
It was systematic, from the top to the bottom and stop blaming a few for the sins of many!
It’s the UN wants to take away the rights of all parents!
Who can trust them?
The story of the Magdalene Laundry is very sad and a very bad reflection on the Catholic Church in Ireland who tried to help children who would ave otherwise died – some from starvation!
The State did not have the financial resources to help!
Sadly, the bad Catholic Clergy have brought the Catholic Church into serious disrepute!
Such people should not have been priests or members of the clergy!
When Jesus choose 12 apostles – 1 betrayed him – 1 denied him – and 1 betrayed him
A sad reflection on human nature!!
You Forget that the Laundries where commercial and ran at a Profit, with the assistance of Government Contracts?
Industrial Schools where also places of enforced Labour, Manufacturing Rosary Beads Socks Rugs etc etc And Farming.
Child Slavery on a Grand Scale
Many Children who where in the Industrial Schools still bear the marks of Malnutrition; and suffer from poor health because of it!!
You are a brain washed fool. It would seem that someone in your family profited from the Industrial Schools and the Laundries. I feel sorry for you and you complete lack of compassion.
The Laundries were run on a subsistence level — perhaps because the nuns were not trained as business managers. The women earned their keep — a 40 hour week, with State supervision of their working conditions. The Industrial Schools regime is a different issue.
Kim, please read the McAleese report instead of dismissing people with such abusive comments.
It was a government yes man that investigated the magdalene laundrys, it was never going to be impartial, as for the un they should take a closer look at their on shop.jobs for the boys, the un as an organisation is a complete joke.
Have you read the McAleese Report? It is fully backed by documentation that can be consulted for decades ahead; there is no other comparable resource. What aspect of State involvement are you accusing the McAleese Report of covering up?
Only the state has the resources to uncertainties of helping large numbers of people.
………to take on the risks and uncertainties….
Risks and uncertainties of what? Nuns are worth billions? They have sent profits of Generations of Slave labour back to the Vatican
They looked after 10,000 women at the behest of the State, without remuneration. They made no profit from this.
The Government Got the Report they Paid for Absolving the Religious Orders. Now the Government want to foot the full Bill for “Restorative Justice”
The Religious Orders have a Stranglehold over the HSE, this is the main reason that the Unconstitutional Indemnity Deal of 20002 was let stand!
The Government thought that they had had not involvement in the Magdalene Laundries; it was the nuns’ records that showed the full extent of State involvement. The Government offered compensation to all Magdalenes — why? In order to ward off potential expensive legal actions against them. The money is given only on condition that its recipients relinquish all such action. The nuns were forced to take on the heavy burden of taking full care of 10,000 Irish women, and they seem to have fulfilled their role honorably, with no reward.
There are many questions that the McAleese Report needs to address but doesn’t seen to answer. The UN is right to be concerned as should all people. This wasn’t something that just affected only a certain lower class in Ireland but I feel it happened to some who still feel the shame and if they were to come on board with what happened to their family’s they would lend weight to the need. So many things left unanswered. This is a shame that the whole of the world should feel. Let those in power feel the full weight of humanity about this. The Church and the State were bedfellows in what happened and it would seem that they are still walking down the lane holding hands. I may never have had any family members involved but I feel so strongly about this that I weep for those who did. We need to keep up a strong front for the ladies that had to endure this awful thing. Thank you for listening to me.
The McAleese Report does not answer all questions — but there is no other comparable report. The UN Report shows signs of sloppiness.
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