Thousands attend pro-life rally in Dublin
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More than 25,000 people attended a pro-life rally in Dublin to oppose the Government’s plans to introduce new abortion laws in Ireland.
Currently, abortion in Ireland is illegal unless it occurs as the result of a medical intervention performed to save the life of the mother.
Under the proposed changes, abortions would be permitted where there is a perceived risk of the mother committing suicide.
Contributions
A number of speakers contributed to the “Unite for Life” vigil, held in Merrion square, including Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte.
Mr Harte said that he was “concerned” with the Government’s proposals.
He added: “Ireland is almost unique in the Western world in looking out for, and fully protecting, two patients during a pregnancy – a mother and her unborn child,” Mr Harte said.
“We are here to oppose the unjust targeting of even one unborn child's life in circumstances that have nothing to do with genuine life-saving medical interventions.
“No individual or nation is perfect - we all have our faults and failings but when it comes to life before birth, we have a value system, an ethos which we should proudly share with the rest of the world”.
No evidence
A pro-life spokeswoman, Caroline Simons, commented that there is no evidence that abortions reduce the risk of mental disorders or suicidal inclinations.
She said that the Government’s claims that abortions were needed to counter the threat of suicide had been “completely demolished at last week’s Oireachtas hearings on abortion.”
She said: “The psychiatrists who addressed the hearings were unanimous that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal ideation.
“There is no evidence whatever that suggests that abortion reduces the mental health risks of unwanted or mistimed pregnancy. But there is evidence that abortion increases the risk of future mental health problems for a significant number of women.
“If the Government legislates for abortion on the basis of the X case, this legislation would cure no woman of suicidal ideation, but it would put some women's lives at risk”.
Prior to the rally, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, held a prayer service for the “he child in the womb” at St Andrew’s Church in Westland Row.
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