The survivor advocacy group Justice for Magdalenes (JFM), has published a guide for survivors as they prepare to engage with the Magdalene Fund.

After issuing a full state apology in February, the Irish leader Enda Kenny appointed justice John Quirke to undertake a three-month review and make recommendations to the Government about the criteria for applying to the Magdalene Fund for payments and other supports.

JFM prepared the guide ahead of a report by a former High Court judge into how the State can best redress and support survivors.

The Survivor Guide to Magdalen Commission is available to download from the JFM website here. According to JFM the purpose of the guide is to help survivors and their families create a checklist of present-day needs.

Survivors are asked to register the fact they were in one of the laundries before decisions are made on how the redress scheme will operate.

“JFM offers the Guide as a practical response to the many requests for direction we continue to receive from survivors, family members and many politicians seeking assistance for constituents,” a JFM statement said.

The group intends on circulating the guide to Magdelene survivor groups as well as NGOs, Citizens Information Centres and Family Resource Centres.

Survivors who have not already registered with the Commission can do so by ringing 001353 – 476 8649 or filling out a form on the website.