Ireland’s abortion laws are cruel and inhuman

SIR, I’m no stranger to the self-promoting athlete. I grew up on the pre-fight antics of Muhammad Ali. All their stuff and nonsense detracts from the actual sport, whichever one it happens to be. They may be well talented but I don’t think they are the best examples for young, aspiring athletes to follow.

Real sport heroes don’t have to bounce around like they are in the centre ring of a threering circus.

There was plenty of sport on offer this past weekend and to my mind the real heroes were not in the boxing ring in Las Vegas – they were on the pitch in Croke Park. Our Kerry footballers did The Kingdom proud. They were heroes, all of them – both on the women’s and men’s teams.

There will be no multi-million dollar cheques coming their way, but the kind of pride they swell up in their fans simply cannot be bought. They are the ones the young athletes can look up to. They are the ones who make the kids want to play for Kerry.

Hard training, well fought matches, handshakes and hugs afterwards and then back to the business of work and life. That’s what makes a real sporting hero.

We owe them all a sense of gratitude for being our Kerry heroes. SIR, Since its insertion into the Constitution in 1983 the Eighth Amendment has forced over 170,000 women to travel to the UK to access the abortions they need. One woman every week makes that journey from Kerry.

The Eighth Amendment is failing women and girls. Miss X. Savita Halappanavar. Ms Y. Amanda Mellet. The pregnant woman kept on life support for 24 days, against the wishes of her family, after she was declared brain-dead. Mother A. Siobhan Whelan. The recent case of a pregnant teenager who was placed in a psychiatric ward when she asked for an abortion.

The UN Human Rights Committee concluded, on multiple occasions, that Ireland’s abortion laws under the Eighth Amendment are cruel, inhuman and subject women to degrading treatment.

The Eighth Amendment also affects women who continue their pregnancies. The HSE’s National Consent Policy limits a pregnant woman’s right to informed consent or refusal of treatment. This is a direct result of the Eighth Amendment.

The Eighth Amendment must be repealed, the healthcare provided to women and girls is compromised while it remains in our Constitution. Sincerely,

Paula Dennan, Convener, Kerry for Choice.