There will be no regrets for those who vote to keep the Eighth
■ Gerard O’Regan (Irish Independent, March 31), writing in the context of the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment, suggests that there will be those on both sides of the choice “who leave the polling booth still haunted with self-doubt”.
That very self-doubt will become a form of self-indictment for those who choose to remove the dual-protection afforded both lives in the amendment and an abortion regime becomes institutionalised in Ireland.
For those who vote to maintain this humane protection, there will be no such regrets as Ireland’s status as one of the safest countries in the world for both mother and baby will be assured.
However, it will, I believe, be incumbent on such voters, should the proposed change be rejected, to lend all their energy and support to creating a culture of support for women whose pregnancies are unwanted because of unfortunate circumstances or because of rape, that most subhuman of crimes.
They must work to create a culture in which the always precious life of the newly conceived will be fully guaranteed and in which the courage and generosity of spirit of his or her mother to grant it is fully recognised and commended.
For such mothers there will, in time, be no haunting regrets concerning the choice for life they make in gifting rather than terminating the life of a tiny innocent, unique in all creation. Colm Ó Tórna Ard Aidhin, Baile Átha Cliath