In March 2013 Mr Justice John Quirke delivered his Magdalene Commission report to the Government. The report contains recommendations and criteria that should be applied in assessing the help that the government can provide in areas of payments and other supports to the women who were admitted to and worked in Magdalene and other laundries within the state. To investigate the diverse needs of the survivors of the laundry systems, Mr Justice Quirke was assisted by thirty three barristers who conducted interviews with 337 Magdalene survivors who participated in the process designed to address the issue of compensation.
According to Mr Justice Quirke, the thirty three barristers - who had to be women, engaged in “conversation [which] was intended to be both an information gathering process, and more importantly, an opportunity for the Magdalene women to convey directly to the commission and to me, who they were, where they were, what their circumstances were and what could be done to assist them and make their lives more comfortable.”
The pro bono efforts of the thirty three barristers in carrying out this research were eventually rewarded with a human rights award at the Irish Law Awards. Highlighting the importance of fostering a greater pro bono presence within the Irish legal system, Ms Sheehy Skeffington stated: “pro bono work is critical to those who otherwise may not have access to the requisite legal minds. Ms Skeffington questioned this lack of access to legal representation stating: “why don’t they have access ... people shouldn’t have to feel like they are asking for charity to have their rights listened to.”
Click here to read the Magdalene Commission Report in full.
Click here to read an article in the Irish Times about the Bar Council pro bono project.