Sir, – As one involved in campaigning on right to life issues for more than 30 years, I am appalled at the stance of many parties and individuals in Leinster House on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. Some even go so far as to call it a pro-life Bill.
If they understand the significance of the Bill and are honest in expressing their opinions, they would certainly not say that. There is a good reason why all governments since 1992 decided not to legislate for suicidality in the flawed X case judgment, because, if enacted into law it can, in time, lead to wide-ranging abortion.
This Bill allows a perfectly healthy baby, in the womb of a physically healthy mother, to be aborted in circumstances where there is no reliable scientific or moral justification for so doing. Pro-abortion elements in Leinster House are delighted, seeing such a law as capable of further development along the lines they wish.
The people in 1983 voted overwhelmingly for an equal right to life of mother and unborn baby. The politicians are subverting this and even hope to get it passed without a vote! Is there any sense of democratic accountability left? – Yours, etc,
DES HANAFIN,
(Honorary President Pro-life Campaign),
Dublin Road, Thurles,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – I find Prof Eamon O’Dwyer’s assertion (May 21st) that “pregnant women did not commit suicide” perplexing. According to the eighth report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the UK, 17 pregnant women died due to suicide from 2000 to 2008. Perhaps Prof O’Dwyer is simply fortunate that he did not encounter such a case during his career? – Yours, etc,
Yours, etc,
Dr CLARE O’LOUGHLIN,
Monument Road,
Menlo, Galway.