Mags GarganNational Vigil for Life attracts nearly 15,000
Pro-life voters have sent a strong message to Fine Gael that they will remember its broken promise not to introduce abortion in the forthcoming local and European election.
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has also said it is “more committed than ever” to fight abortion legislation, as thousands gathered in Dublin for a Vigil for Life at the weekend were urged not to vote in upcoming elections for candidates from parties who had “broken their pro-life promise”.
PLC Deputy Chairperson, Cora Sherlock said people need to look to “politicians who have a track record of keeping their word”.
She said it is to “courageous members of the Oireachtas, who kept their promise and voted against abortion, that we look to, to rebuild trust in our politics, not to politicians who voted for abortion and who now, on the eve of the local and European elections are trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes with carefully-timed public interventions seeking to win back pro-life votes.
Legislation
Organisers estimate that up to 15,000 people attended the National Vigil for Life in Merrion Square on Saturday, the first gathering of the pro-life movement since the passage of the Government’s abortion legislation last year.
Busloads of people from across the island of Ireland carrying colourful balloons and pro-life messages, listened to speakers such as Lynn Coles from Women Hurt and Jennifer Kehoe, mother of a child who beat the odds after being diagnosed before birth with a life-shortening condition.
Caroline Simons of the Pro Life Campaign said organisers were “massively encouraged” by the turnout, which was “proof that we are wasting no time in starting to rebuild” since the Protection of Life in Pregnancy Act was pushed through last summer. “It’s going to take time, but when the public comes to realise the full horror of what the new legislation involves support for the repeal of the law will gather pace,” she said.
Ms Simons said the Pro Life Campaign plans to release findings of a recently commissioned poll showing a clear majority of women are opposed to abortion where it is shown that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal feelings.