By editor - 21 January, 2016
The Pro Life Campaign has welcomed the passing of a motion in Kerry County Council on Monday calling on the Government not to take any action which could lead to change or the repeal of the 8th Amendment.
The motion was passed by a majority of 10 to 1.
Responding to the outcome, PLC spokesperson Cora Sherlock said it was welcome.
“By stating that the Government should not interfere with the 8th Amendment, the Councillors have acknowledged that every human being should have their rights protected in Irish law, whether born or unborn.”
She added that the 8th Amendment is responsible for saving the lives of tens of thousands of people in Ireland.
“We must work towards a society where this protection continues, and where the necessary financial, social and other supports are put in place so that no woman feels she must resort to the sadness of abortion and the loss of her unborn child.”
Separately, a spokesperson for parent support group, One Day More, has said the group would like to hear doctors acknowledging the enormous benefits of continuing with pregnancies in the case of life-limiting conditions.
Audrey Connolly was reacting to remarks by Dr Rhona Mahony who called for a referendum on abortion for babies who receive a poor diagnosis while still in the womb.
“It is very upsetting for the members of our group to hear doctors talking about how they would like to see a referendum held on abortion for babies who are seriously ill.”
“We have been through this experience. We carried our babies to term and even though they did not live for very long in some cases, we had the chance to meet them and make memories that will last a lifetime,” Audrey Connolly said.
“Our greatest concern is that if abortion is introduced for these seriously ill babies, other families will be deprived of the opportunity to spend time with their babies.”
“We would appeal to doctors to speak up for all families, and to ask the Government to introduce proper perinatal palliative care so that parents dealing with difficult diagnoses can get the support they and their babies need.”
