Sir, – Jacky Jones' article ("Second opinion", March 16th) makes for very informative reading, March 15th and I for one support her conclusion that "It is time to repeal the Eighth Amendment".
When I was chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre I never commented on this issue because the policy of the centre is that it’s mission is to prevent and heal the trauma of rape and sexual assault for victims of these most heinous crimes by providing counseling for them to recover. If a client of the DRCC is pregnant as a consequence of a rape and needs support on what to do with the pregnancy, they will be referred to an agency for the appropriate support to make the decision, which is right for them.
I have looked through the DRCC’s annual reports between 2007 and 2014. Of the clients seen at the centre and who were known to have become pregnant as a result of being raped, 35 per cent chose to have terminations and 65 per cent did not choose to terminate the pregnancy. Of the 65 per cent who chose not to terminate, 29 per cent had miscarriages, 57per cent parented and 1 per cent overall had the baby adopted and 1 per cent had the baby fostered.
I believe these figures, from the most recent seven years, bring a whole new perspective on this most serious issue. We need to trust women, as they are the ones who know best what to do with their own bodies.
– Yours, etc, ELLEN O’MALLEY DUNLOP.
Templeogue, Dublin 6W.