Letters: An appeal to US victims of Magdalene laundries

Iam trying to contact those women and their loved ones who have suffered great historical injustices in institutions in Northern Ireland. My appeal is to those in the United States — and across the world.

This year we, the politicians in Northern Ireland, have the opportunity to right a great wrong of the 20th century, imposed upon young women in mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses between 1922 and 1995.

We have launched an international appeal to victims and survivors of these institutions, asking for their views on legislation to establish a public inquiry and financial redress scheme. Both are aimed at addressing the terrible wrongs done to them during one of the most distressing and hurtful episodes in our history.

The Inquiry (Mother-and-baby institutio