Magdalene Group Does Not Want Reconciliation Forum

By Caroline O’doherty
Irish Examiner
June 10, 2013

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/magdalene-group-does-not-want-reconciliation-forum-233696.html

One of the groups representing survivors of the Magdalene Laundries has said it will not take part in any truth and reconciliation forum the Government might set up as part of a redress scheme.

Magdalene Survivors Together activist Steven O’Riordan said the women had already told their stories and now wanted progress on practical elements of redress, such as compensation, supports, a national monument and a Magdalene museum.

“The women within our group would have no interest in taking part in that kind of process simply because they have been relaying their stories as far back as 2009 when we first met the Department of Justice,” said Mr O’Riordan.

“They’ve told their stories to the cross-party committee and they’ve relayed them again to the McAleese report. They don’t want to keep going back any more. They want to move on.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny appointed senior judge Mr Justice John Quirke to advise on a redress scheme and his report went to the Government last week. According to RTÉ yesterday, one of his recommendations is for a mediated forum to be set up where survivors and the members of the religious orders could meet to confront the past without formally apportioning blame.

Mr O’Riordan said it would be almost impossible for survivors to meet under those conditions as they were clear on where the blame lay for the ordeal they suffered.

He called for the immediate publication of Mr Justice Quirke’s report to allow the women the earliest opportunity to see if his other recommendations met their demands.

“It’s unfair that bits of the report are now being leaked,” said Mr O’Riordan. “It creates a lot of anxiety and nervousness because I’ve had calls all day from women asking is this the only recommendation.

“I presume it isn’t, but we need to all realise that we are dealing with women who are aged from their sixties up to 92 and they shouldn’t be made wait any longer.”

That view was echoed by British-based survivors’ campaigner, Sally Mulready, who also urged the Government to tell the women the full details of what kind of redress was planned.

“They have been on hold for many, many years,” said Ms Mulready.” It’s really important for them to get a fast, fair and just settlement. They need to move on with their lives, to bring some kind of peace to them.”

The Department of Justice said it was considering Mr Justice Quirke’s report.