Deep anger as Enda Kenny refuses official apology on Magdalene Laundries

McNamara - well said indeed!

s/b: Hopefully Ireland can move forward

These Laundries were run by Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge. Yet these poor women received no Mercy,no Charity,and no safe Refuge in a time of need. Much misery inflicted on the women of Ireland was from outside forces (famine times)but much was self inflicted by an cultural ethos that could never deal with their concept of "shame" whether it came from unmarried pregnancy, mental illness or addiction. Hopefully Ireland can more forward and embrace total human beings, "faults and all" instead of judgmentally shunning them away.

Quote: Rob. "Why should the PM apologise for events that happened before the current govt's term of office". The PM his not being asked for a personal apology as an individual, but an official apology on behalf of the Irish Government acting on behalf of the people Of Ireland, and indirectly those who bear affection for Ireland through heritage, love or the inherited right to attend 'the gathering of the clans'. You call the money these unfortunates may obtain compensation; I call it the return of blood money for shattered lives. If we accept your argument has some merit (it hasn't) then must we assume that if you yourself get injured at work and negligence is involved you will seek no compensation, or if your car is vandalised you do not want the guilty party to pay for it's repair, and if your children are taken away from you then you will bear no grudge. Can't you look at these laundry workers and say "the but for the grace of God go I"?

Why should the PM apologise for events that happened before the current govt's term of office. This sounds like what we have down under with everyone apologising to the abos for what happened 250 years ago! They just look stupid apologising, and open the doors for massive compensation payouts.

MichaelMcGrath, thank you. Litigation seems to be the name of the game, and each generation plays it the same.

This was Holy Catholic Ireland for you...

The handling of how the women who were imprisoned in the Magdelene Laundries must be delicate. I hope though that the Taoiseach doesn't miss a chance to make amends, somehow, to the surviving women. There was no mention of how women's babies were stolen from them and sent out of the country for adoption, without records, and for money. Today that would be considered human trafficking. Careful words are good words, yet they need to be clear.

To Mr Michael Mcgrath. Another ‘Mr McGrath was born in County Waterford, Ireland, and went on to become the most celebrated and successful dog of his time, whilst racing under the name of Master McGrath he won the Waterloo Cup on three occasions, 1868, 1869 and 1871 and was the first greyhound to do so. He became such a celebrity that his owner was asked to take him to be seen by Queen Victoria and the Royal Family He was buried in the grounds of a house called "Solitude" in Lurgan. The reason I am mentioning this is because I and thousands of other will admire this dog better than you, and the cause of my dislike is your remarks about these laundry women, which are in poor taste and totally devoid of sympathy for them, brings shame on the honourable name of McGrath and yourself. These Irish women and girls, some being just children, deserve every penny of the compenation we hope one day they will obtain. Your comments on this subject suggest to me that you must also be devoid of all sympathy for Korean Comfort women and their counterparts the female Nazi slave workers who also worked in Nazi laundries washing and ironing military uniforms. May they rest in peace.

An apology from Ireland for the horrible actions of those long dead and gone is as useless as the pope apologizing to the Jews for WWII and how they ignored the concentration camps and all that went on then. It is too little, too late and the ones who should have apologized, I hope are roasting in HELL>

(joke:) Knock at the door. Door opens. "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." (end of joke.)

Handsome88 you are a very wise person, for there is a battalion of top lawyers on standby in the USA and Ireland waiting to pounce the moment an official apology is made, and that could cost the Irish junk economy billions.

Correct again Taoiseach - only the perpetrators of injustice can apologise - it is hypocrasy to presume to apologise for those one doesn't even know.. get real.

Perhaps the prospect of giving monetary recompense/ compensation is behind the Prime Minister's words. And too, when the contents of the cookie jar only contains crumbs if even that, what is the state to do? Still, I am speculating only since I know nothing of financial matters of Ireland.