Plight of Magdalen women must never be forgotten
Issued : Wednesday 8 July, 2009
LW welcome the screening of the film 'The Forgotten Maggies' in Galway.
The plight of the thousands of women who were consigned to Magdalene laundries must never be forgotten. These women, their children, and their families were failed, not just by religious institutions, the state and establishment, but by society of the time.
Labour Women, and members of the Labour Parliamentary Party believe that the screening in Galway today (10.30 am) of 'The Forgotten Maggies' gives us an opportunity to rectify in some small way, the wrong that was visited upon these women over many decades.
It is fitting that women and men with influence and a voice should be the ones to salute these women who were rendered voiceless and powerless.
We should take this opportunity to express our determination that the plight of the Magdalene women will never be forgotten, and that nobody will ever again be forced to endure the pain, anguish and humiliation that they suffered.
There has never been a formal apology of any sort to the Magdalene women, either from the religious orders involved, or from the state, who were in many ways complicit in subjecting these women to this awful treatment, and that is something that needs to be addressed.
If the Magdalene women were denied the opportunity to be part of their own families, then today should be about putting that right insofar as we can. Today's screening should mark the beginning of a process whereby these dreadful injustices are corrected and where we can signal in a real and meaningful way, that families being torn asunder in such a cruel and brutal manner will not be tolerated again.
ENDS
Contact Bernie Courtney, Labour Women, 087-901-6601
