Justice for Laundries survivors

THE Government’s addition of 14 institutions connected to the Magdalene Laundries is welcome – but comes too late for many.

A redress scheme for survivors was set up in 2013 and so far nearly 700 people have received just over €26million in lump sum payments.

But many institutions were excluded and spent years fighting for inclusion.

Vulnerable girls resident in these horrific institutions were often used as slave labour.

The Army, Civil Service and even the country’s top hotels availed of the free service.

Most are now in their 70s, 80s and 90s – despite the last Laundry closing as recently as 1996.

These women deserve to be recognised for their bravery and endurance and for keeping their plight in the public eye.

Many survivors have died and some will be too old to appreciate their so-called “award”.

Justice delayed is justice denied. The Government must move faster to ensure all who endured these hell-holes receive all they are due.

They lost a large part of their early life to hardship in sweatshops in an Ireland that seemed to turn its back on them.

They deserve a better quality of later life. Enhanced medical cards and “top ups” to their pensions alongside their payments would go some way to ease their suffering.