U.S. Magdalene daughter was taken from her mother aged 18 months

Thank you, Olovely. Time to move on.

The internet sometimes brings out repulsive trolls like Smyrnian. Sometimes they may not know they're trolls, as Smyrnian seems not to. Troll comments are merely troll comments. The courage and spirit of these two women in the face of a society that wanted to marginalize them, as Smyrnian still does, astounds me.

Culchie - glad you are moving on to other topics. This one is beaten to death. PS I had a sister in the magdalene laundry in the 1930's and 40's. I know all about it. It's time to move on though. Even she agrees.

A very painful history. But we need to resist a peculiarly Roman Catholic tendency towards social self-flaggelation. Atonement and forebearance, yes. These launderies were established under British rule. They predated political autonomy. They weren't an exclusively RC phenomenon, but Anglican also, as posted on below recently. Backdated repayment of wages with interest for lost earnings. Irish citizenship for the disowned. Accomodation, care and counselling for all brutalised by this political aberration.

Smyrnian, sorry we're boring you. But some of us have to continue the fight for justice while you sit back in your armchair and read about it, and the media helps us with that fight. Stay tuned when we go after the forced adoptions, US-trafficking, vaccine trials and further violations of women and childrens' rights in Ireland...perhaps that will perk you up.

Happyhippo. The rape of children was as wrong then as it is now. Violence against the defenceless was as wrong then as it is now. Stealing children then was as criminal as it is now. Hindsight is a poor excuse for such matters when the perpertraters were the ones with all the wisdom. The reason they used underhand tactics to veil wrong doings is proof they knew what they were at.

Misswhisp. It is great to hear of some one who has had a differant expieriance from the norm of late. Unfortunately the good will be tarred with the same brush as a result of cover up. Who would wish to be a priest or nun at the present time. They too should rebel to have many issues resolved.

I don't know about everyone else but I am all Magdalend out. Time to move on to another story that puts the Catholic Church in a bad light. IC is out there raking the gutters right now; should be something new ( no matter how obscure or tangential) any minute now!

It has been said many times and proven repeatably throughout history,if you give any group of people total control be they religous, politicians, or others,without accountability they will become corrupt because its in the nature of humans beings to assume control,in fact the Magdalene Laundries and the Industrial schools were set up originaly as charitable institutions by people with the best intentions,because of the extreme poverty in Ireland at the time,the best known was Bro Rice who set up the Irish Christian Brothers and is still venerated to this day,you just cant apply todays freedoms to the 19th century because of the amount of control and restricted practices ancient beliefs that pervaded most socities at the time,looking back in hindsight its easy to be wise.

How sad that the Catholic Church got away with this . it just goes to show you they preach love & Forgiveness and the truth is its an Evil & hateful sex club run by Evil Old Boys Club . the Vatican should be Hung out to Dry along with its Priests , Bishops & Cardinals. and the Pope as well because it was a Cover up from the Top Down

This could happen in Holy Catholic Ireland? Never...

Well, thats the catholic church for you.

I used to live near one of these laundries. I didn't realise what was going on but it was described as the place for fallen women. Worse still one of the orphanages associated with the paedophile priest Brendan Smyth was in the same area. I admire anyone who survived that evil. It is increasingly hard to sustain faith in a church which managed this kind of abuse. I have been appalled by the misogynist nature of Islamist extremists like the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan but then I think some of those cultural attitudes existed all around me.

One thing that has changed by the apology given to the Magdalene's is that there is now a little less pain in the world. So, I feel better about that. I agree with Mari. Each case should be looked at individualy, as some suffered more abuse and degradation than others.

and once again the catholic church victimized the weak and defenseless i am suprised that that corrupt and sa scandalous organization as been allowed to thrive. what with diddling small children to slavory and theft of artifacts from the jewish during the nazi war. these supposed "men of God" should flog each other until their skin is gone and then do it again.