Offaly TD Carol Nolan. Matthew Carlson
A prominent pro-life group has applauded the actions of Offaly TD Carol Nolan after she retired from Sinn Féin because the group voted to deny its members the right to vote with their conscience on abortion without receiving discipline.
At Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis in Belfast last weekend, the party voted to amend the group’s policy that allows TDs to support the pro-life movement.
Commenting on Mrs. Nolan’s actions, Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said:
“It’s a very rare thing in politics these days to find a politician with the kind of courage and principle Carol Nolan has shown.
“She knew from the outset she would not receive plaudits or support in media and political circles for her pro-life stance yet none of this deterred her from standing up for what she believed in.”
Dr Cullen added that Sinn Féin has spent an “awful” lot of time recently talking about “trusting women” and the “right to choose”, but these slogans ring hallow when the party is not prepared to trust one of its own female members to exercise her right to choose to oppose abortion.
“This has been an extremely difficult time for Deputy Nolan and other Sinn Féin members who stood up for real democracy and freedom of conscience within the party,” said Dr Cullen. “They should be immensely proud of what they have done.”