- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; 1st edition edition (9 Jun 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1840189681
- ISBN-13: 978-1840189681
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
61,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #73 in Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Cultural History > Irish
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Kathy O'Beirne's earliest memories are of being battered and sexually abused. Unable to confide in anyone about the beatings she regularly received from her father or about the boys who made her play dirty games, she became withdrawn and self-destructive, leading a psychiatrist to diagnose her as 'a child with a troublesome mind'. As a result, aged only eight, Kathy was removed from the family home and incarcerated in a series of institutions. In the first, a reformatory school run by a holy order on behalf of the Irish State, she was raped by a visiting priest. When she tried to get help, she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital, where the abuse continued, along with the administration of large amounts of drugs and electric shock treatment. At the age of twelve, Kathy was sent to a Magdalen laundry. These notorious workhouses operated in Ireland throughout the twentieth century and during that time thousands of young girls, some orphans, some pregnant and some considered 'at risk' in the community, were forced to slave in horrendous conditions. Locked away from their families and the outside world, many of the girls were cruelly punished and sexually abused by the staff or lay visitors. Kathy fell victim to one of these predators and gave birth to baby Annie just weeks before her fourteenth birthday. The little girl had a serious bowel condition but lived to the age of ten, providing the only light in Kathy's blighted life. After all that she has suffered, Kathy has now come forward to tell her harrowing story in the hope that more will be done to help survivors of institutional abuse. She recounts her tragic experiences in unflinching detail but what is most remarkable is the strength of character that shines through such a dark tale. It is this strength that has enabled her to survive and fired her continuing struggle for justice.
About the Author
Kathy O'Beirne has led the campaign for justice for Magdalen girls in Ireland for the past 11 years.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'd recommend this to anyone, whether they had heard of the Magdalen Laundries or not.
The book chronicles Kathy's experiences at the hands of Religious Reform schools and later the Magdalen Laundries, and the awful abuse that she and many other children suffered.
She discusses the legacy that this has left in Ireland - mental hospitals full of women who became so disturbed and institutionalised by the schools and laundries, that they will never experience normal life again.
The book chronicles Kathy's experiences at the hands of Religious Reform schools and later the Magdalen Laundries, and the awful abuse that she and many other children suffered.
She discusses the legacy that this has left in Ireland - mental hospitals full of women who became so disturbed and institutionalised by the schools and laundries, that they will never experience normal life again.
Kathy's courage is striking as she manages to focus her emotions towards fighting for justice for herself and for the other women.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I brought this book some time ago & was genuinely moved it. The things this poor women went through were truely horrific....
....then I found out that the nasty little woman made it all up! How dare she! There are many people that have actually had to suffer these experiences and are probably too scared, even today, to tell their stories. Not our Kathy, hey? She's all too happy to reap the benefits of telling such a disturbing story of her life without ever actually having to go through any of it herself...well done!
Maybe she should be made to go and speak to some REAL victims of the Laundries to give her some idea of how awful she really is for doing this?
Also...to all those saying 'I do not understand how anyone could believe that Kathy lied about this story. Why would anyone lie about such a horrific past?' or 'i find it very difficult to believe that someone would make up such horrific lies about their past' - you need a reality check.
....then I found out that the nasty little woman made it all up! How dare she! There are many people that have actually had to suffer these experiences and are probably too scared, even today, to tell their stories. Not our Kathy, hey? She's all too happy to reap the benefits of telling such a disturbing story of her life without ever actually having to go through any of it herself...well done!
Maybe she should be made to go and speak to some REAL victims of the Laundries to give her some idea of how awful she really is for doing this?
Also...to all those saying 'I do not understand how anyone could believe that Kathy lied about this story. Why would anyone lie about such a horrific past?' or 'i find it very difficult to believe that someone would make up such horrific lies about their past' - you need a reality check.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
i read dont ever tell and was so moved i bought kathys story-childhood hell inside the magdalane laundries
the thing is its the same book with just a differnt title!!!!
the only difference is that there are some phots of kathy and her family in this one so although either book is brilliant there is no point in buying the 2
the thing is its the same book with just a differnt title!!!!
the only difference is that there are some phots of kathy and her family in this one so although either book is brilliant there is no point in buying the 2
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A nice story, but only a story.
This is a fictional story, please don't be deceived by it. Its a genre which unfortunately sells.Please read Kathy's real story.In short.She made it up. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cate
Moving story
I found this book an incredibly honest and moving story. I completely believe what kathy says and despite what other reviewers have said, there is no evidence whatsoever that her... Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. V. Mcateer
Horrific
You will not enjoy reading this book, you won't be able to put it down, you will never ever forget it.
Published 17 months ago by annt
KATHYS LIES
I read this book and could not put it down. What a terrible childhood Kathy had a wicked father and how she was treated in institutions and he losing her baby girl.... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2008 by A. Hayes
The Courage of Kathy
Kathy's story is a direct and honest recount of the horrors she and countless others suffered in the Magdalene institutions, it cannot have been faked unless she managed to come... Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2008 by Ms. N. Picot
Disgusted by the author
At first, upon reading this novel, I was shocked and moved at this "true" story of a young girl. Just a few weeks after reading this, however, I came across a television... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2008 by Baba ganoush
Synopsis
Kathy O'Beirne's earliest memories are of being battered and sexually abused. Unable to confide in anyone about the beatings she regularly received from her father or about the... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2008 by Mary_10
Kathy's Real Story: A culture of false allegations exposed
One week from today a book by a respected Irish journalist, Hermann Kelly, will hit the bookstalls: in it, Kelly recounts his investigation of her story and his conviction that it... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2007 by Tony Napier
very sad story that had to be told
i found i couldn't put this book down.i cant believe such a horrible thing could happen too anyone.my heart goes out too the ones that to this day are still in mental hospitals and... Read more
Published on 3 July 2007 by Ms. T. A. Mcmillan
LIAR!
After watching the channel 4 programme 'Lie Lab', I am disgusted that someone could make up such dreadful things and profit from selling them as 'a true story'. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2007 by darkeyes
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