The Magdalene Laundries.

[Alison J Stevens]

The Irish government has just released a report into one of the most notorious child stealing organisations of the C20th- The Magdalene Laundries. Though they seem to have originated in Ireland they were throughout the world. The women were slaves during their lives and when they died, were buried without ceremony. The ones who survived do not even have their years of slavery counted towards their pension entitlement.

Department of Justice and Equality 2013 Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalene laundries, Chaired by Senator Martin McAleese. Government of Ireland.
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/MagdalenRpt2013

You can find some of the contributing documents here:
Justice for Magdalenes 2013 Feb.
http://www.magdalenelaundries.com/resources.htm

And here, are videos of some of the discussions in the Irish Parliament.
Justice for Magdalenes 2013 Dáil Éireann Video.
http://www.magdalenelaundries.com/video.htm

The singer, Sinead O’Connor, was one of the inmates.
Counihan, P. 2013 Sinead O’Connor claims baby boy was snatched from mother’s arms in Magdalene Laundry: Singer makes official complaint to Irish police, Irish Central, 10 Feb.
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Sinead-OConnor-claims-baby-boy-was...

Nolan, L. 2013 Now other women that suffered this horror need to come forward, The Sun, Ireland, 10 Feb.
http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/news/4787150/Now-other-women...

There is an extensive written and filmic history and Joni Mitchell and the Chieftans produced this beautiful ballad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwgTSC-stIM