Abortion Case in Dublin High Court

national | gender and sexuality | press release

Monday April 30, 2007 20:57

by Alliance for Choice

theallianceforchoice at eircom dot net

another X case?

ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE
CALLS ‘D’ CASE
A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN

It was only a matter of time before another distressed young woman was forced to remind the Irish people of the disgraceful situation facing women in crisis pregnancies in this country. The HSE’s refusal to permit a young woman in their custody to terminate her non-viable pregnancy is consistent with the hypocrisy exhibited by successive Irish governments who have refused to deal with the issue. It is truly outrageous that this vulnerable young woman should be further traumatised by having to ask the courts for the right to terminate a pregnancy that can, at best, result in the birth of a child with no possibility of life.

Dr. Mary Muldowney, spokesperson for Alliance for Choice said:
“The HSE must retract their callous approach to D’s tragic case and facilitate her choice for a termination. She cannot afford any further delay and the Irish people will not thank the HSE or the government for again brutalising a young woman in their name.”

Following on from the X and C cases in the 1990s, legislation dealing with the issue of abortion was promised, but even after the people rejected the Government’s 2002 attempt to roll back the X judgement even that minimal protection has not been underpinned by law. While the near total ban on abortion in Ireland does not prevent most women from seeking abortions it does result in increased delay, expense, unnecessary hardship and stigma for those women who face particular barriers to accessing services abroad, such as women living in poverty, young women, migrant and asylum-seeking women, and all those in the direct care or control of the State.

save preference

Comments (8 of 8)

demodemodemodemo

by ProChoDa!

Mon Apr 30, 2007 23:05

This case is very important as it could create wider grounds for seeking abortion than those created by the x case constitutional crisis that 'granted' the legal right to abortion when the life of the mother is endangered, with endangerment including suicidal depression. My, how benevolent is the state in promising to repeal the appalling laws they created against the people in the first place.

It's time to make a fuss on the streets to make the right to choose the biggest political issue four weeks before the election.

Activists against the rats of the capital!

Why is the child a "D"?

by huxley

Mon Apr 30, 2007 23:32

Throughout our history but certainly in the last 10 years we've got used to seeing victims as well as criminals appearing before our courts referred to by letters only. What do these letters really mean?
not who - what

rally

by bobot - choice ireland

Mon Apr 30, 2007 23:56

choiceireland at gmail dot com

A rally has been called in support of Miss D's right to travel for an abortion, and to demand that all parties commit to legislating for the X case. The rally will take place this Saturday at noon in front of the GPO.

i would envision that the rally will take place regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's hearing.

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82268

X Case Revisited

by John Meehan

Tue May 01, 2007 01:06

Mary Muldowney's statement is excellent.

Election candidates should be invited to take a position on this issue.

Legal abortion is needed in Ireland - to do that we have to delete the 8th amendment inserted into the constitution in 1983. A referendum can only happen through a resolution being passed in the Dáil - so which candidates can commit to putting a bill through the next Dáil proposing the deletion of the eighth amendment?

In the meantime the next Dáil could legislate on the X Case - it's that simple.

In the referendums that followed 1983 - the 3 in 1992, the Fianna Fáil attempt to overturn the X Case Judgement in 2002 - the pro-choice current was on the winning side - that's four victories out of five - let's move on to five out of six.

Invites only?

by The Bouncer

Tue May 01, 2007 10:16

"Election candidates should be invited to take a position on this issue."

FFS, what do they need an invite for? I'm sure John could get the ball rolling. Let's see a joint statement from Joan Collins, Seamus Healy, Catherine Connolly and the PBPA .

Free, safe and Legal Abortion

by C Murray

Tue May 01, 2007 10:19

Free, Safe and Legal Abortion is dependent on the State not abdicating the care of the
individual person . it is dependent on a government that recognises duty to that person through
the provision of a State Health care system.

The precedent setting Monica Roa case exemplified the issue of State Care of the
woman or child in relation to access for medical abortion services, including the
opt-out on the grounds of ethos/religion but the provison through the State
system of medical abortion services to women who require them.

In a liberalised , universal insurance and two-tier system of health care wherin
the state has abdicated that care to private clinics this is an unworkable situation.

It is time that the Political parties stopped ignoring the issue of the provision of
abortion services to those that require them and faced state responsibility toward
the individual.

The issue of dignity and privacy of this girl is also something that needs addressing
because of a refusal over 24 years to address the issues in our society which include
the Ann lovett case, The Deirdre De Barra case and the 'X' case we have come to this.

Consultation with the human rights groups who have asked for these issues
to be addressed in a mature fashion is how legislation is created.

Leaked documents

Tue May 01, 2007 11:38

**well- the parties are circulating policy documents on the issue.
and guess what?

There is a general refusal to countenance the issue of abortion on party lines, this may
be to do with cowardice or indeed the ones that have come my way are not
known for:-

1. Gender balance.
2. Consulting with human rights groups.

Again , I will say it (and many are)

the issue of abortion has to be faced in Irish Society. It is a matter of legislation.
The majority of political parties do not have a vocal women's group, nor do they
consult with party members on the issues that are pertinent to women.

The issue has been slam dunked by one party organiser without:

1. Asking the party members how they feel.
2. asking the voting public how they feel.

Its a control thing.

I shall not be publishing the name of that party, yet. or the details on the
internal communications (cos that would be naughty).

Laissez-faire, leave it alone, the usual story in Irish politics which is why a
sizeable majority of women do not bother with the ballot box.

Why did the HSE attempt to have the girl put in psych care?

Thu May 03, 2007 14:13

The girl at the centre of the abortion row has argued that her right to privacy, travel and integrity
are violated by the HSE , who attempted to have her put in a psych unit for the duration of
her pregnancy.

This is something that will be a benchmark for a EU rights case?

Many women went to such places as Goldenbridge under the community revulsion of
women's sexuality in the past.

Today we have a repeat performance of the hurt caused to many of our mothers by institutional
power.

The case is ongoing.

The Gardai stated that they had no legal right to interfere in the order by the HSE.

The Minister for Health should be asked about the power that has been conferred on the HSE
and the Minister for Justice because this case is a national disgrace.

The girl's mother who suffered the same trauma is due to speak in support of her daughter.

Are we as a society willing to confront the issue of the institutional abuse of women
and children caused and perpetrated by a legislature who are unwilling to confront
its past?

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Abortion Case in Dublin High Court

Comments (8 of 8)