Magdalene Survivors Together is calling on the Irish government to ensure that any Magdalene Survivor who has applied to be included in the redress scheme and subsequently passes away that her application should be still valid.

The call came after the oldest known survivor of an Irish Magdalene Laundry passed away this week.

Madge O'Connell was 97. She was born on January 27th 1916 in Dromina in Co. Cork. At the age of 34 both her parents had passed away and it was suggested by the local Parish Priest that Madge should sell her home and farm.

Upon selling her home Fr. Ryan put Madge into the Good Shepherd Convent in Sunday's Well where she would spend the rest her life.

Maureen Sullivan, Magdalene Survivors Together member, has expressed sadness that Madge has passed away. "It further highlights the importance of allowing the women to begin the process of claiming for what is rightly theirs. I'm calling on the Government not to delay the compensation process any further" she said.

While Marina Gambold - Magdalene Survivors Together Member - added "Our thoughts and prayers are with his lady. Who could imagine that she spent all her life in the care of the Good Shepherd's, I spent two years there and it was hell. May she rest in peace"

According to her relation Patrick Fitzgerald "Nobody ever knew where the money went or what happened to the money from the sale of her home."

In 1993 when the Good Shepherd Laundry finally closed its doors, Madge, along with the other Magdalene women who were now completely institutionalised, were moved to live in Montonette, Cork, still under the care of The Good Shepherds.

According to Patrick "while under the care of the Religious Order she was moved twice. I don't think the Nuns wanted us to be calling to be honest. When she was moved the second time we were never informed about it and they would not tell us where she was. It took two years for us to find her. We rang every Nursing home and care centre in Cork until we eventually located her."

After that Madge was put under the Care of St. Patrick's Hospital on the outskirts of Cork City.

In 2013 when the Irish Government gave their official State Apology, Madge expressed an interest in filling out The Department of Justice form. This form is the preliminary expression of interest in the receipt of benefits from the Magdalene Laundry.

Steven O'Riordan is Director of Magdalene Survivors Together. He said her story was very distressing, but she wanted to tell it.