Childhood Interupted Kathleen

in 1950 kathleen o'malley and her two sisters were legally abducted from their mother. the rapeof eight-year-old kathleen by a neighbour triggerd their removal. kathleen's mother successfully prosecuted the man, but it was her daughters who received a much harsher sentance when they were committed to mount carmel industrial school in moate,county westmeath. it was run by the sisters of mercy order of nuns, who also ran the magdalene homes.kathleen and her sisters wre subjected o hard labour,floggings,near starvation and humiliation until they wre permitted to leave when they reached the age of sixteen.