Chicago shooting kills girl (7) and wounds 7
EIGHT people were shot including a young girl who was killed in what Chicago police believe was gang-related violence.
The shooting took place on the city’s South Side on Saturday night.
The seven-year-old girl was shot in the head and died, while a one-yearold boy and a seven-year-old boy were each shot multiple times and listed in critical condition, Deputy Chief Don Jerome said.
IT IS “disgraceful” that six years after the repeal of the Eighth Amendment women still have to travel to access essential healthcare services, a Labour senator claimed yesterday.
Senator Annie Hoey said that numerous barriers are still in place for women trying to access such services in this country, particularly those in rural areas.
Senator Hoey said: “The continued necessity for Irish women to travel for abortion services underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.
“Research shows numerous barriers persist, including the restrictive nature of the 12-week rule and the scarcity of healthcare providers in rural areas.
“We know there is a lack of GPs providing abortion services outside of main urban areas which poses significant challenges for many women.
“In 13 counties, fewer than 10 GPs offer abortion care. For example, young girls and women from rural areas are reporting having to make two lonely trips to their local city for abortion appointments.
“There is no need to make an already vulnerable time even more challenging.
“It is Labour’s firm belief that all healthcare should be available and delivered in a community setting, so it’s clear that swift action is needed from Government to increase the regional spread of service providers.
“Abortion is a fundamental healthcare service, and every effort must be made to ensure equitable access for all women in Ireland. Compassion in a crisis is what people campaigned on and voted for in 2018.
“Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens cannot row back on their promises to the women of Ireland.”
Letter
It comes as The National Women’s Council, along with a number of civil society groups and academics, has also written an open letter to the Government to demand improvements to abortion provision.
The organisation said women were still travelling abroad to access services as a result of obstacles in this country. Among the obstacles listed in the letter were the mandatory three-day wait, inadequate data collection and lack of safe access zones.
The rigid legal criteria for abortion access after 12 weeks, including the 28-day clause for fatal foetal anomalies, was also mentioned.