The Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, also known as Magdalene asylums, were institutions usually run by Roman Catholic orders,[1] which operated from the 18th to the late 20th centuries. They were run ostensibly to house "fallen women", an estimated 30,000 of whom were confined in these institutions in Ireland.
In 1993, unmarked graves of 155 women were uncovered in the convent grounds of one of the laundries.[2][3] This led to media revelations about the operations of the secretive institutions. A formal state apology was issued in 2013, and a compensation scheme for survivors was set up by the Irish Government, which by 2022 and after an extension of the scheme had paid out €32.8 million to 814 survivors.[4] The religious orders which operated the laundries have rejected appeals, including from victims and Ireland's Justice Minister, to contribute financially to this programme.[5]
- ^ Blakemore, Erin (21 July 2019). "How Ireland Turned 'Fallen Women' Into Slaves". History. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
NYTwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Humphreys, Joe (21 August 2003). "Magdalen plot had remains of 155 women". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ McGarry, Patsy (2 March 2022). "Nuns who ran Magdalene laundries have not contributed to redress for women". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
compwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).