Campaign is marked by abortion row

Abortion became an issue when three candidates accused each other of smears during the final week of the Connacht-Ulster Euro-election campaign.

Independent candidate Ms Marian Harkin accused sitting Fine Gael MEP Mr Joe McCartin of "despicable" claims in a debate on Galway Bay FM.

Ms Harkin said that Mr McCartin's reference to her aligning with the Liberal group, if elected to the Parliament, was "an attempt to introduce abortion and euthanasia as issues" in the campaign.

Mr McCartin had been participating in a debate last week on the Keith Finnegan Show. Ms Harkin confirmed that she had held discussions with the independent Munster MEP, Mr Pat Cox, of the Liberal group. But she said that this did not reflect her views on certain issues, such as abortion, which she opposed.

Also participating in the live radio debate, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon said she had been smeared by other candidates. When Ms Harkin claimed that Dana's canvassers had been inferring that she was pro-choice, Dana responded: "You may speak to your own canvassers who said you were pro-choice."