Abortion law has been forced on NI and will put extra strain on health service in time of real crisis

ANITA Villa’s letter (Write Back, May 13) contains suggestions, accusations and half-truths about those in Northern Ireland who are pro-life in regard to the iniquitous new abortion law which has, indeed, been “forced” on the people of the province.

The law was discussed for less than 20 minutes in Parliament (compared with 700 hours of debate on foxhunting), it was allowed to be slipped in on a different Bill entirely and it also disregarded the fact abortion was supposed to be a devolved matter for Stormont.

What proof has Anita that “doubt and confusion are being deliberately spread” to hinder those who are now entitled to abortion here? She has also misrepresented the 1967 Abortion Act to make it seem that many were dying through backstreet abortions.

In actual fact, the Bill was presented to stop the few who were doing this. It was not passed to make abortion the multi-million-pound business it has become today.

Anita also speaks of social attitudes surveys all showing the need for some provision for abortion services.

Yet, the Government consultation here on the subject showed 79.9% were against the law being changed.

Certainly, we need compassion and support for the 2% of crisis pregnancies due to real health issues, but do the women of this province really want to see abortion become another form of contraception, as it has across the water, paid for by the taxpayer?

We are facing a financial crisis as it is, due to the Covid-19 virus. Why should we have to pay for those who want to kill their unborn child because they have not taken precautions which are freely available?

STELLA WILSON Tandragee, Co Armagh