Ex-sinn Fein TD hits out at party over abortion laws
A FORMER Sinn Fein TD has accused the party of “aiding and abetting” the introduction of abortion in Northern Ireland.
Peadar Toibin TD, leader of the conservative nationalist Aontu party, also hit out at the SDLP leadership for supporting the introduction of Westminster legislation which will soon come into force here.
It will allow abortions to take place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy “without conditionality”.
Mr Toibin left Sinn Fein in 2018 after it changed its stance on abortion, which was illegal in Northern Ireland, except in very limited circumstances, until it was decriminalised last year.
He said the new laws, which will also see terminations permitted beyond 12 weeks in certain other circumstances — such as cases of fatal foetal abnormality — are a “massive blow” to human rights.
“At a time when so many people are struggling to save lives in the north of Ireland, we see the Tories in London introduce a law into this part of Ireland that will end the lives of so many healthy living individual human beings. It’s desperately sad,” he said.
“I am not surprised by the Tories. However, the fact that Sinn Fein and the SDLP leadership aided and abetted the Tories in directly legislating away the human right to life in the north of Ireland is shocking.”
The SDLP has described itself as a “pro-life party”, but its politicians are free to vote with their conscience on abortion laws.
Party leader Colum Eastwood had voiced support for the ‘yes’ campaign in the Republic’s 2018 abortion referendum, but said at the time that he did not agree with unrestricted access to terminations up to 12 weeks’ gestation. Mr Toibin insisted the Westminster changes to abortion had been forced through “against the will of the people” here with the support of Sinn Fein deputy leader, Michelle O’neill.
“Michelle O’neill went to London and demanded that Westminster introduce this legislation into the north, reversing hundreds of years of republican self-rule policy. Aontu will fight this legislation.”