In a heartfelt tribute, a survivor of the infamous Magdalene laundries has hailed the late Sinead O'Connor as a beacon of strength who "made Ireland a different place" by fearlessly exposing church and state exploitation.
O'Connor, known for her candidness, had previously shared her harrowing experiences of abuse in a Magdalene laundry during her teenage years, where she was confined for over a year. As a mark of respect and honour, survivors formed a guard of honour for the beloved singer's funeral procession as it passed by her former Irish residence.
The Magdalene laundries, notorious institutions established by the Catholic Church in Ireland, were designed to house so-called "fallen women". It is estimated that around 30,000 women were incarcerated in these laundries. The shocking revelations about the widespread abuse of women and girls within these institutions eventually led to a formal state apology in 2013.
Maureen Sullivan, one of the thousands of women who suffered in these secretive establishments, came to witness O'Connor's funeral procession in Bray, Co Wicklow. She revealed her own traumatic experience, stating she was sent to the laundry at the tender age of 12 after being abused by a family member.
Sinead's philanthropy has been praised since her death was announced (Getty Images)"I'm a survivor of the Magdalene laundry ... and I spent four years in these places, trafficked from one to the other," she confessed. "My name changed, my education was taken from me and I wasn't allowed to play with other children in case I told them what happened to me."
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In a poignant moment in 2022, survivors of the Magdalene Laundries unveiled a Journey Stone at St Stephen's Green in Dublin, serving as a stark reminder of their collective ordeal. In a tribute to the women who suffered in Magdalene laundries and similar institutions, the Journey Stone memorial was erected.
Ms Sullivan credited singer Sinead as a pivotal figure in bringing the memorial to life. "Sinead came along, she done a charity single for us so we could get a monument. So, the monument was just thrown on the side, so I decided that I'd turn it into a Journey Stone, and it's in the little museum in St Stephen's Green," she said.
She lamented that O'Connor's contribution often goes unnoticed, stating, "Sinead's name never comes up much on that, but only for Sinead that Journey Stone wouldn't be there on 08, Aug 2023." She added, "It was for all survivors and she was very happy about that."
Tributes were paid as Sinead was laid to rest today (PA Wire)During the funeral, some attendees held signs drawing attention to the exploitation many children endured in church and state institutions in Ireland.
O'Connor sparked controversy when she ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in 1992, protesting against sexual and physical abuse in the Catholic Church. Years later, Pope John Paul II would admit that such abuses were rampant in Catholic institutions worldwide.
Ms Sullivan praised O'Connor for her bravery in publicly addressing the issue despite facing severe backlash, saying it gave survivors strength. "It gave us all courage, it gave us all strength. She gave strength to so many women," she said.
She expressed regret over how O'Connor was treated in Ireland, saying, "And the only thing I feel so sad about was the way she was treated in Ireland, I think that people should have supported her more."
"They're supporting her now when she's dead, but what support did she get when she was living? That's the sad side of it," she added. Expressing hope for the late singer, she said, "So my hope for her is that she has gone into the light, and I hope she's in a better place because she deserves it."
She praised O'Connor's courage and impact, stating, "She made Ireland a different place. She spoke out when nobody else would. She was before her time."
Ms Sullivan hailed O'Connor as a unique performer and activist, saying, "One in a million, I don't think we'll ever meet anything like her again." Her voice filled with regret, she added, "I'll miss her terribly, I wish somebody would have reached out to her and helped her."
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Laura Murphy, a Mother and Baby home advocate, estimated that about 100 people affected by the Catholic Church had travelled to honour O'Connor on Tuesday in Bray. 43-year-old Ms Murphy, from Laois, spoke about how the late singer was "not afraid" to share her own trauma and faced a "horrendous" time after tearing up the picture of the pope.
She declared, "So we, in Ireland, the activist movement in Ireland, in general, looks up to Sinead O'Connor as our queen."
"We will honour her from this moment forth in every, every piece of activism we do, every word of truth that we speak, we will be honouring her and we will be emboldened by her, and we will be very cognizant to ensure that her legacy continues."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk
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