BackAn investigation by Ombudsman Peter Tyndall has found that some women who worked in the Magdalen laundries have been wrongly refused access to the Magdalen Restorative Justice scheme. In his report ‘Opportunity Lost’, issued today, the Ombudsman also criticises other aspects of the Department of Justice and Equality’s administration of the scheme.
The investigation follows a number of complaints to the Ombudsman from women who had lived in convents and worked in the laundries. The Department of Justice & Equality refused their applications as, it said, the women were not in one of the 12 institutions covered by the scheme.
Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said:
“My investigation focussed on whether these women were eligible for the scheme and on how the scheme was administered. The evidence shows that these women should have been included and that there were flaws in the way the scheme was administered.”
The Ombudsman added that implementation of his recommendations would not result in any new institutions being added to the scheme.
The full report ‘Opportunity Lost’ can be read here.
Source: Ombudsman of Ireland
