A petition to block the sale was signed by 10,000 people.
Dublin City Council voted on Thursday night to block the proposed sale of the last state-owned Magdalene Laundry site to Japanese Hotel Chain Toyoko Inn.
The council stood to recoup roughly €14million from the sale of the site, which is located on Sean McDermott Street.
However, many had raised concerns that the site was of huge historical significance, given the major role that the Magdalene Laundries played in Irish history, up until as recently as 1996.
Social Democrat Councillor for Dublin’s North Inner City Gary Gannon welcomed the decision, saying:
“Tonight the elected members of DCC voted overwhelmingly to halt the sale of the former Magdalene Laundry on Seán McDermott St.
“I’m proud of my city & looking forward to ensuring an appropriate memorial is placed there to honour the victims & survivors of institutional abuse.”
Tonight the elected members of DCC voted overwhelmingly to halt the sale of the former Magdalene Laundry on Seán McDermott St.
I’m proud of my city & looking forward to ensuring an appropriate memorial is placed there to honour the victims & survivors of institutional abuse. 💜
— Gary Gannon TD (@GaryGannonTD) September 13, 2018
The petition to preserve the site reads: “Tell the Councillors that the Sean McDermott Street Magdalene site must be preserved as a national centre for commemoration and education.
The institutional and clerical abuses that have caused pain and destruction to so many people and families in Ireland must be acknowledged. We must never forget, and we must never allow them to happen again.”
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