THE “vast majority” of the 10,000 women who passed through the Magdalene Laundries left Ireland for new lives in Britain, according to The Irish Women’s Survivor Network.
The news comes the week Enda Kenny formally apologized on behalf of the State for the abuse thousands of Irish women suffered in the religious institutions.
In the Dail on Tuesday the Taoiseach said: “This is a national shame for which I say again, I’m deeply sorry”.
The apology follows a London meeting between Mr Kenny, Justice Minister Alan Shatter, Minister of State Kathleen Lynch and 15 British-based survivors. Attention is now expected to turn to the matter of compensation with Sally Mulready from the Network calling for a “fast, fair and just settlement”.
Ms Mulready described the Taoiseach’s decision to delay his apology as a “wise” one. She also said the establishment of a British based resource service was spoken about at the London meeting.
Speaking about Irish women fleeing to Britain, she said:
“They were so frightened that they would be picked-up again, even though they hadn’t done anything that they got out of Ireland as quick as they could.”
