How safe is abortion for the unborn?

DUNDALK based Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick was one of only three members of the Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment who voted against a motion that the amendment should not be retained in full in the Constitution, along with Independent Senator Ronan Mullen and Independent TD Mattie McGrath.

During the course of the committee hearings, when Dr. Peter Boylan, former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, had argued in favour of repealing the eighth amendment and replacing it ‘with legislation along the lines recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly which gave it very deep consideration,’ the former Louth manager had asked a number of questions.

Noting that the committee had been ‘ talking a lot about the safety of abortion for women,’ he wanted to hear from Dr. Boylan about how safe abortion is for the baby in the womb. ‘It seems to me that we must be prepared to say, here and now, that abortion is never safe for the baby. With abortion, the baby’s life always ends. How does Dr. Boylan feel about introducing a procedure that would ask doctors to do the opposite of what they have always been asked to do? We have always trained doctors to save human lives. Abortion would expect doctors to end human lives.’

The Louth TD asked Dr Boylan it he believed the baby in the womb should be seen as a doctor’s patient with the same rights as everyone else and if he believed he has two patients, the unborn and the mother, or one patient?

Dr. Peter Boylan replied ‘when a woman opts to continue with a pregnancy, then we have two patients who we have to take care of during the course of a pregnancy.’

Dr. Boylan said if Ireland did not have access to termination of pregnancy in the UK, ‘ the maternal mortality rate would be very high. The only thing that keeps us having a low mortality rate is ease of access to termination of pregnancy in the UK. ‘Deputy Fitzptrick retorted: ‘My problem is that one in every five pregnancies in the UK is aborted and there are 200,000 abortions in the UK each year. The last thing I want to see is Ireland following suit.’ EXPECT the unexpected if you go to the Peter Mark salon at The Marshes, Dundalk this Halloween weekend as staff invite customers to join in the fun for annual Petermarkathon fundraiser.

This year, the Peter Mark team aim to raise much needed funds for The Simon Community and specifically contribute to maintaining the support facilities for homeless individuals in crisis as part of the ‘Make it Home’ campaign.

The vital work of the Simon Community is needed now more than ever as Ireland faces a housing and homelessness crisis.

The charity focuses not on managing but ending homelessness, ensuring that people on the edge maintain and keep their homes. The overall aim of the ‘Make it Home’ campaign is to keep and ensure homes for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Funds raised will help local Simon Communities deliver vital services, which in Dundalk includes the Sunnyside Hostel in Barrack Street, the Day Centre services at Seatown Place, and supports for people moving back into housing in the community.

Peter O’Rourke, CEO, Peter Mark said, ‘We are delighted to be able to take part in the “Make it Home” initiative to help raise much needed funds for The Simon Communities in Ireland. We know our customers will get behind this year’s Petermarkthon in their usual inimitable spirit and style.’

Brian Ingarfield of The Simon Communities thanked Peter Mark for their support. ‘ The management, staff and customers create a unique, special event each year which brings joy while raising much needed funds for those in need.’