Mari Steed and the real-life story of the Magdalene Laundries

HR 2

Guests: Mari Steed

[From the Radio Times archives] Just like Philomena Lee, the subject of movie “Philomena”, Mari Steed’s Irish birth mother was sent to live and work in one of the Magdalene Laundries where she forced to give up her 18-month-old daughter Mari. Mari was adopted by a suburban Philadelphia couple and when she was an adult she launched a search to find her birth mother Josephine Bassett. The process was long and arduous but the two eventually reunited in 2002 in England where Josi, who died several months ago, was living with her family. Over the years, Mari Steed became a staunch adoption advocate and has been actively involved in getting the Irish government to compensate the surviving Magdalenes. Marty talked to Steed about her story, her mother’s story and the work of the organization, Justice for the Magdalenes.