Negative role of drink in our lives

Sir — I want to commend Alison Canavan for her wonderful message of hope and resilience that she relayed through her recent article in your paper.

Pouring out her experiences over the years with utmost honesty and courage.

“There is always a reason to have a drink.

“But most of all it was used to help me escape.

“I had to ask myself — was I controlling my drinking or was my drinking controlling me?”

I sincerely thank Alison for opening the window to her life by describing exactly how it was for her.

The negative role that alcohol can play in our lives needs to be addressed openly in this way and not sugar-coated. Many of us have been affected either directly or indirectly by alcoholism and seem to tiptoe around the issue as if we were “party poopers”.

Reading Alison’s true personal account of how her life has been affected by alcohol and how through sheer determination she has found a new way to be in the world is so so encouraging to those who need courage to ask for help. Alison, to you I’m truly grateful.

Roisin Co Meath

of the baby. Most people do not have a medical degree but they know that abortion is not a “routine medical treatment” and to claim that it is most disingenuous and hypocritical. No matter how many stories are trotted out about the trauma endured by those who chose to abort their babies, it cannot disguise the lack of compassion, empathy and kindness towards the helpless baby.

No, Dr Kelly, it is not those who have abortions who are voiceless but the most helpless and vulnerable of all, the baby in the womb.

Why is there no mention of the baby neither in Dr Kelly’s article nor in most media reporting on abortions? Surely we have endured enough coverups without adding to it by pretending that abortion is a “routine medical procedure”.

If this were so, why do so many doctors and nurses refuse to participate in it? Why are efforts made to ensure that a conscience clause is not included in law? Please, can hypocrisy be put aside and facts presented so that people can see what is actually involved in aborting babies?

Mary Stewart Donegal