Sinn Fein stance over Stormont abortion legislation perplexing

I WAS delighted at the outcome of Paul Givan’s Private Member’s Bill in Stormont. But some of the comments, or explanations since then have been perplexing, to put it mildly.

The Sinn Fein decision to abstain in the vote was perplexing. Perhaps they did not want to be on the losing side. Or perhaps they were influenced by the thousands of pro-life petitions received by their MLAS.

Even more curious was their explanation for abstaining, which referenced the Department of Health’s failure to fully implement the British Government’s imposition of abortion in the north of Ireland.

This was a very odd statement for a so-called “republican” party to make and I am sure many republican voters will find it hard to get their heads around. There is another aspect to this explanation. Sinn Fein fully supported the implementation of abortion legislation in the Republic of Ireland, which was less radical than what the British imposed on the north.

However, they also want the full radical version of the British legislation implemented in the north.

You might think that, as a republican party, Sinn Fein would want the same or similar legislation in all parts of the island of Ireland.

Their support for different legislation in the two parts of Ireland strongly suggests a partitionist approach to the abortion of unborn Irish babies in both parts of the island. Maybe it is just coincidence, but British overlord Brandon Lewis has announced his intention to compel the Department of Health to fully commission abortion services, as laid out in the British legislation. Mr Lewis will know that the voting figures in the Assembly a few days ago make it clear that there is not political support here for the so-called “services” he wants implemented.

I sincerely hope that the unionist MLAS stand their ground and do not allow their Westminster overlords to impose these so-called “services” on the people of the north.

EAMON DALLETT

Dungiven, Co Derry