Magdalene claim does not merit prosecution

Independent.ie
Probe trips up TV row author

By JEROME REILly
Sunday November 11 2007

An intensive 11-month garda investigation into claims made by Kathy O'Beirne, the author of a controversial book on systematic clerical abuse, failed to uncover enough evidence to merit a prosecution, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Senior gardai investigated claims made in Ms O'Beirne's book Kathy's Story, which has sold more than 350,000 copies here and in Britain, as well as serious allegations she made in subsequent print, TV and radio interviews.

investigating gardai spent months probing the allegations of rape and physical and psychological abuse. It is understood that they were unable to ascertain if Ms O'Beirne was ever a resident of the infamous Magdalene Laundries where she alleges she was abused.

In a brief statement, the Garda Press Office confirmed that a garda investigation had been instigated and a file prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

"The DPP decided that no prosecution would ensue," a garda spokesman said.

The garda investigation was prompted by the former Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, after he received a request from the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, who ran the Magdalene Laundries. Ms O Beirne claimed to have been raped a number of times and to have become pregnant at 14 years of age, while a resident in the Magalene Laundry at High Park in Dublin. She also said she had been a resident of a similar laundry at Sean McDermott Street in Dublin.

After the allegations were made, the Order began their own investigations, but were unable to find any evidence that Ms O'Beirne was ever a resident of the Magdalene laundry at High Park.

They were also unable to find any evidence that she spent any time at the laundry at Sean McDermott Street, despite the availability of exhaustive documentation.

They did find evidence that Ms O Beirne spent six weeks at St Anne's industrial schools, which was also run by the Order, but which were unconnected to the Magdalene Laundries.

The Order subsequently gave a detailed statement to the Department of Justice outlining their concerns and demanding that Ms O'Beirne's claims be investigated.

Mr McDowell passed the information on to the gardai who began a painstaking investigation that failed to uncover evidence backing up Ms O'Beirne's claims that would warrant the DPP ordering a prosecution.

- JEROME REILly

?independent.ie