Removing the 8th only way to support cases of Fatal Foetal Abnormality
Together For Yes campaign marks one month until polling day with major event in Cork
Attendees hear from singer-songwriter John Spillane
Removing the 8th Amendment from the Constitution is the only way to protect women and couples who receive a devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal anomaly, according to Together For Yes campaign.
At a major event in Cork this morning, Campaign Co-Director Orla O’Connor said: “Imagine if your daughter, sister, niece or mother received the devastating news that their happy pregnancy involves a fatal foetal anomaly, you would want them to be able to access safe and legal healthcare in their own country. You would want them to be cared for and supported at home in Ireland. This is equally the case for women who become pregnant as a result of rape or are told their pregnancy could cause serious health problems.”
She continued: “The only way to change how Ireland treats women in these crisis situations is by voting YES on May 25th. We know the 8th Amendment harms women in Ireland and puts them at risk every single day. We know thousands of women are having abortions every day without proper supervision. We know we need to remove it in order to create a more compassionate, supportive environment for our daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, aunts and nieces.”
Speakers at today’s event included musician John Spillane, Dr Mary Favier (Doctors Together For Yes), Luke Field (Deputy Chair of Cork Together For Yes) and journalist Joe O’Shea who acted as MC. Attendees also heard the testimony of local couple Susan and Tim Corcoran from Cork who personally experienced fatal foetal anomaly in 2003.
Dr Mary Favier of Doctors Together For Yes said: “As a GP, I see cases first-hand where an excited couple, expecting a child, is given the diagnosis that there is a fatal foetal anomaly and they must decide whether to continue the pregnancy or terminate it. The 8th Amendment harms women and couples in this situation by placing an unfair and unkind emotional and practical burden upon them, of having to travel at an extremely difficult and heart-breaking time. As a GP, it is difficult to have to send these patients away, when I have been unable to provide the healthcare they need at such a time.”
Luke Field, Deputy Chair of Cork Together For Yes said: “What is particularly striking about the Cork Together for Yes campaign is the number of men who have stepped forward to do as much work as they can. Grandfathers are supporting their granddaughters. Brothers are supporting their sisters. Fathers are supporting the mothers of their children. Every one of us who is involved in Cork Together for Yes has our own individual reasons for being here, but they all boil down to the same thing: we want an Ireland that offers care and compassion to women who need it, and we’re ready to make the necessary change.”