Threatened by UDA, 16 year-old frequented army base and another was about to be tarred and feathered - Arlene Foster visibly stunned at reasons NI women and girls put into Magdalene Laundries during Troubles

Statue of Our Lay Mary outside the Good Shepherd Catholic Church on the Ormeau Road in Belfast which shared the site with Magdalene Asylum ran by Roman Catholic Good Shepherd Sisters from 1867, with the Laundry closing in 1977.

Mrs. Foster told MLAs how women were subjected to “a lifetime of trauma” and revealed how some women and girls deemed to be in crisis because of the Troubles were forced into Magdalene Laundries.

“In 1972 a girl aged 18 was brought to a Good Shepherd Convent by police who had rescued her from being tarred and feathered,” explained First Minister Foster.

“It’s not clear why she was under threat of communal rough justice.”

Mrs. Foster went on to describe how in 1973 another young woman was put into a home by a Protestant clergy man after it emerged she had a Catholic boyfriend and had been threatened by the UDA.

The DUP leader could not hide her shock about an incident in 1976 involving a 16 year-old girl who was put into home by her parish priest because a British army officer complained to the girl’s mother that she had been frequenting an army base.

“These are reasons young women were put into laundries - I find that incredible,” said Arlene Foster.

“If after looking at this there is evidence it should be absolutely investigated by the police to see what could be done.”

The Northern Ireland Executive has ordered an independent investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1990.