Back in 2021, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín was interrupted in the Dáil by Solidarity-People Before Profit members as he attempted to question the Taoiseach over the Holles Street abortion scandal and the delay in providing answers to the parents of baby Christopher who was aborted in the National Maternity Hospital following a misdiagnosis that indicated he had a life-limiting condition. That an Oireachtas member could be shouted down for raising such a serious and troubling issue speaks volumes about the state of political discourse in our parliament.
The HSE, for its part, dragged its feet in issuing an apology to baby Christopher’s parents over the death of their son, but an “unequivocal” apology was finally issued last weekend. Though long overdue, it is nevertheless a welcome development. The CEO of the HSE also announced that there will be an independent review into the case over what went wrong.
In 2019, soon after the new abortion law took effect, the parents of baby Christopher were wrongly advised that he had a life-limiting condition – leading to him being aborted in Holles Street. His parents have since spoken about the “interminable sadness and grief” they live with every day and the all consuming physical and mental trauma they have to deal with as a result of the horror of having terminated their son’s life.
The fact that the previous Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, failed to address the issues surrounding the case during his long tenure in the Department of Health is simply astonishing. How many other unborn babies like baby Christopher have lost their lives under Ireland’s abortion law following a misdiagnosis? These are questions that need to be asked and answered.
From misdiagnoses, to the failure to properly inform women about the possible risks of abortion, to the continuing uncertainty over what “comfort care” means when a baby survives a late-term procedure – at what point will we see proper oversight and accountability demanded of those who carry out abortions?
Families who have felt pressured to go down the road of abortion or who believe critical information was withheld from them by medics before an abortion, certainly want to see greater openness that involves them more in decisions taken – decisions that shape their lives – and the lives of their children – in the most profound way.
Again, the announcements made last weekend by the HSE are welcome, but their prolonged inaction has very likely cost lives that might otherwise have been saved. Now that the words of apology have finally been spoken, we need to see real action.
It is a National scandal the huge amount of babies being aborted in Ireland ! The government in conjunction with the HSE needs to act now to save those little lives.
If an elected TD in representing a citizen voter asks a question from Government it is the responsibility of Government to respond civilly and truthfully. Minister Boland gave a rediculous answer in 1946 when questioned about the informed comments of Fr. Flanagan of Boystpwn. Had he been truthful & checked out the situation properly he would have saved great suffering among the residents of the institutions and huge ongoing expense to the taxpayer.
If an elected TD in representing a citizen voter asks a question from Government it is the responsibility of Government to respond civilly and truthfully. Minister Boland gave a rediculous answer in 1946 when questioned about the informed comments of Fr. Flanagan of Boystown. Had he been truthful & checked out the situation properly he would have saved great suffering among the residents of the institutions for which he was responsible and huge ongoing expense to the taxpayer.
B’fhéidir gurb é seo the beginning of further good news from the HSE.
If an elected TD in representing a citizen voter asks a question from Government it is the responsibility of Government to respond civilly and truthfully. Minister Boland gave a rediculous answer in 1946 when questioned about the informed comments of Fr. Flanagan of Boystown. Had he been truthful & checked out the situation properly he would have saved great suffering among the residents of the institutions for which he was responsible and huge ongoing expense to the taxpayer.
I think it is a national disgrace the way families and single girls are pressurised into having abortions without any in-depth research into the mental anguish they have to deal with later on. We need to stress to them that this is an innocent little life that cannot fight for itself and deserves the very basic right to life and we need to insure the mother is offered the utmost of help and care by professionals.