Sir Peter A. Grehan writes (June 19th) that many new abortion referendum.. for men generally. . .15 just a matter of principle", and that only women are personally affected by this issue".
With his words, Mr Grehan seems to count as nought the crushing guilt, doubt, self-loathing and anger experienced by those men who support and struggle with their partners before, during and after an elective termination of pregnancy, and who watch helplessly as those women suffer through their own emotional, physical and mental cataclysms.
He also spurns the right of half of the population to make their voices heard in determining some of the ways in which this fundamental issue will continue to affect our country and our people.
With the greatest respect to Mr Grehan, and to everyone who has a view of any sort on this vast issue, I believe that he could have made these statements only in the happy ignorance of one who has never had to participate in a decision regarding the wilful abortion of a pregnancy in all the dire circumstances that accompany such a choice.
My heart goes out to all such anguished people. I have known a few of them, both men and women. They need understanding and support, not specious, judgemental opinion.
If there ever comes another referendum, I will cast my vote in the light of nothing but my own conscience and experience.
Yours, etc.,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.