By Shelley Marsden

Ireland’s Justice Minister is carefully considering demands for an investigation of the formerProtestant-run Bethany Home.

Former residents have accused the Government of discriminating against them on religious grounds by excluding them from the remit of its investigation of the Catholic-run Magdalene Laundries.

Mr Shatter gave his assurance to William Irwin, a Co Armagh-based member of the Northern Assembly.

But he told him there are currently no plans to expand the brief of the Government-appointed McAleese Committee to include theBethanymother-and-baby home where, despite suspicions on behalf of the State, several unreported deaths took place in the period before and during WWII.

The McAleese Committee is probing the State's involvement in the Magdalene Laundries.