Ruadhán Jones
Photo: CNS A total of 6,666 abortions were carried out in the Republic in 2019, according to figures released by the Department of Health.
Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute described the figures as “shocking and tragic”.
She told The Irish Catholic: “It’s tragic to see this first report, it’s tragic to see that 6,666 babies have lost their lives. Behind each one of these figures lies the story of a real woman and a real baby whose life has been ended”.
A further 375 Irish women travelled to Britain for abortions, bringing the total figure to 7,041.
“It is evident from the report that 98% of abortions were social abortions. That’s heart-breaking because surely we can offer these women a better option?,” she said.
“It is a shame and a stain on Ireland, that we have gone down this road.”
Ms Uí Bhriain criticised the paucity of information in the report, but believes the figures still show the Pro-life movement were telling the truth.
Increase
“We were told in the referendum that we wouldn’t see an increase in the number of Irish women having abortions,” she said, “but that has been shown to be one more lie. We’re seeing here that the number of abortions has doubled and we know from other countries that this will rise inexorably.”
“I think this will make people realise that Pro-life campaigners were telling the truth.”
Of the 6,666 abortions in Ireland, 6,542 were listed as ‘early pregnancies’, meaning that they were carried out before 12 weeks without restriction.
A further 100 abortions took place due to a ‘condition likely to lead to death of foetus’, while just 21 took place due to a ‘risk of life or health’ to the mother and three due to a ‘risk to life or health in an emergency’.
Abortions took place in all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland, with Dublin recording the highest figure of 2,493 abortions, according to the woman’s home address.