Ben Scallan defends pro-life on TV show Dinner with the Enemy

Image credit: Ben Scallan via X / Carolyn Christine via Unsplash

Ben Scallan from Gript has featured on this season of the popular TV show ‘Dinner with the Enemy’ that started up earlier this month, and in this weeks’ episode, boldly offered some excellent and compelling arguments in regards to abortion, amidst what is a rather hostile environment.

‘Dinner with the Enemy’ involves a group of ten people with opposing views who come together to discuss and debate a variety of issues, whilst being overseen by behavioural therapists in Dr Richard Hogan and Daniella Moyles.

During the course of the dinner in this week’s episode, the question of “did anyone vote no in the abortion referendum?” is raised by fellow diner Natasha O’Brien. Ben declares that he did.

Whilst Ben's words are greeted with admiration from Dr Horgan, away from the table, for “actually believing in his point,” he immediately is met with what he - Ben - describes as a leading question from O’Brien. 

“So why do you want to have a say with what women do to their bodies?”

This ideology, that abortion is about women being able to do what they want with their bodies, is reiterated by others at the table. However, contrary to what the pro-abortion side wants us to believe, being pro-life and opposing abortion is not about controlling women, or preventing them from “doing what they want with their bodies” – it’s about protecting the unique and precious life of the unborn child, who, let’s face it, did not create themselves.

I would have to agree with Ben on this. It is indeed a leading question, for O’Brien has phrased this in a way that is suggestive that those who are against abortion have no consideration for women, when this is absolutely not the views of the pro-life side, who continue to advocate for the lives of both mother and child. 

However, Ben ably articulates his point, drawing upon the statistic, as reported by the master of Rotunda Hospital, that 95% of babies who are diagnosed with Down’s syndrome in that Irish hospital, are now being aborted.   

“And we see similar figures in the UK. We see similar figures in Iceland and all over the Western World,” he said.

Whilst Ben’s words are challenged by another diner, Izzy Kamikaze, saying that this claim cannot be fact checked at the table. He does, however, get Izzy to concede if he provides the statistical evidence. 

Ben kept his word. After the episode aired this week, Ben took to social media to confirm that this was stated by the Rotunda hospital doctor.

On #DinnerWithTheEnemy, Izzy Kamikaze questioned my claim that 95% of parents whose children are diagnosed with Downs syndrome choose to abort.

Receipt 👇 pic.twitter.com/cRhVqTJAkt
— Ben Scallan 🇮🇪 (@Ben_Scallan) October 20, 2025

He is, however, asked if this is what he based his vote on, to which he said no, but that it was “one important issue.” Thus, it is likely that more points were made, however, this would have been taken out from the editing process.

The truth is, all humans are incredible, all lives are beautiful, and this statistic from Rotunda hospital should horrify us. In the UK, abortion is legal until 24 weeks, unless the child has a disability, including Down’s syndrome, where abortion is allowed up to birth, and sadly, around 90% of babies diagnosed with Down’s syndrome in the UK are also aborted. This is a tragic consequence of allowing abortion. We begin to devalue the human person, so that even in cases when a child is diagnosed with a disability, society begins to view them as worthless beings, who need to be eliminated.

And let’s not forget the horrific figure of over 55,000 babies who have been aborted in Ireland since it became legal in 2019. We were promised by the government that abortion would be rare, but 55,000 lives is not rare. 55,000 babies who would have been alive today are gone. This cannot be ignored. 

Some of the diners who support abortion are people who are also advocates for the rights of people who are being affected by other social issues, however, what they fail to realise is that because of the acceptance of abortion, we have allowed this idea that the rights of some people should not be fought for. Abortion just says that if a “problem” arises, like a disability, just abort. So where do we draw the line? How do we decide who gets certain rights and who doesn't? How can we as a society embrace true equality when we don’t consistently allow for basic human rights for every single human being?

Bravo to Ben for standing up and speaking up on this very important issue, bringing to light the horror of what legalised abortion really brings. We need more voices out there, prepared to speak up about the injustice done to such small and innocent human beings.