Pro-life supporters gather for ‘March for Life’ outside Sligo University Hospital

A ‘March for Life’ held by pro-life demonstrators outside of Sligo University Hospital on Saturday the 13th of January was well attended, with Seán Wynne, Drumshanbo Secretary of the Irish Catholic Association Campaign, present at the march to speak about the rising abortion rates in Ireland.

“The public was misled every step of the way during the referendum campaign, as people were repeatedly told, and falsely reassured, that abortions/ terminations/ unlawful killings would be restricted in the event of the Eighth Amendment being repealed,” Wynne stated, of the broken promises that the public were falsely assured of at the time of the 2018 referendum.

Official figures in regards to the number of abortions which have taken place in Ireland since the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 came into effect show that the number of abortions in Ireland have increased significantly each year since 2018, with over 8,000 abortions in 2022.

Although these are the official figures, the START  (Southern Task Group on Abortion & Reproductive Topics) group, a group which is representative of some of the medical professionals involved in abortion provision, have stated that its members estimate they are carrying out between 800-900 abortions per month.

Data released to Carol Nolan TD also suggests that a further jump to 10,000 abortions in 2023 may have taken place. 

In regards to abortion statistics, Wynne expressed his concern that, not only are these START medics seemingly not alarmed about the number of abortions taking place, but they have also been advocating for further legislative changes that they say are necessary and would actually make the practice easier. In a piece for the Irish Examiner, a member of START claimed that “We urgently need to encourage more GPs to become providers.” and that in order for this to happen, “we need to see all 19 maternity hospitals providing full abortion services to provide back-up to GPs working in the community.”

This is just one example of how many of those who are pro-abortion not only ‘support’ abortion, but vastly encourage it. “It is stunning how the goalposts keep shifting, without any scrutiny or hard questions being asked” Wynne stated.

“The public was misled every step of the way during the referendum campaign, as people were repeatedly told, and falsely reassured, that abortions/ terminations/ unlawful killings would be restricted in the event of the Eighth Amendment being repealed,” He continued “But now the sad and tragic truth is starting to emerge. Pro-life campaigners were accused of scaremongering in the run up to the referendum, but based on the latest figures, if anything, they underestimated what would happen in Ireland if the 8th amendment was repealed, now that we see the true figures emerging.”

“Factoring in the number of abortion pills previously bought online, as well as the drop in the number of Irish women travelling to England for abortions, 800-900 abortions per month still represents an almost trebling of Ireland’s abortion rate, or over 12,000 terminations in one year.”

“97% of babies terminated are perfectly healthy, so the question must be asked; why are life-giving alternatives to abortion not even being discussed?” said Wynne.

“This outcome is a devastating tragedy and a huge indictment of the Government, resulting from all of the misleading statements made during the referendum campaign five years ago, as well as their refusal to support positive alternatives to terminations.” He added.

“The Minister for Health at the time of the referendum, Simon Harris, closed his eyes and ears to everyone who predicted what was likely to happen in the event of repeal of the 8th amendment.”

In conclusion, Wynne stated that “the way in which pro-life activists remain committed to the right to life of all human beings” is highly encouraging, despite “the setback that happened in 2018.”

“Responsibly and persistently, we will fight on to ensure that the truth gets out about the kind of abortion/termination regime that this Fine Gael-led government has introduced.

“One only has to look at what’s happening in other countries, with great hope and optimism, to see that this battle for the right to life of the unborn is far from over,”