Northern Ireland Abortion Scandal

In Northern  Ireland a senior midwife is being investigated for committing illegal abortions. There is hardly any news about it, so what are they trying to hide from us? Is this another example of censorship to keep us safe from the “real world”? Shouldn’t this be news? When has this ever happened before in this country?  The criminal offence of illegal abortion is also known as Child Destruction and carries a possible sentance of life imprisonment. In what circumstances were these abortions taking place? Surely the women on whom these abortions were committed should be reached. They may also  be victims.

It could be that there are too many complications to this story, such as people coming forward and claiming compensation for criminal injuries and also other people being implicated, for it to suit some people. But surely the public should be the judge of that? Don’t we live in a democracy?

Here is this Midwifes Bold Admission to the Press:

From The Sunday Times

May 23, 2004

Midwife admits illegal abortionsLiam Clarke“A SENIOR Northern Ireland midwife has admitted taking part in illegal abortions and believes most terminations now carried out in the province are “criminal acts”.

Breda Hughes has called for guidelines to be published clarifying Northern Ireland’s abortion law, which dates back to 1861 and takes no account of modern screening procedures. …….

Hughes is the secretary of the Northern Ireland branch of the Royal College of Midwives, a representative body, and has 17 years of clinical experience as a midwife. “I was aware that they were illegal, as are the midwives now,” she said.

About 70 abortions are carried out in Northern Ireland each year and at least 1,400 women with addresses in the province have pregnancies terminated at private clinics in Britain. The most common reason for abortions performed in Northern Ireland is foetal abnormality.

According to Hughes, abortions are most commonly offered when serious conditions such as Down’s syndrome, Potter’s syndrome (which results in stillbirth ) and spina bifida are detected, or when a foetus is found to be carrying a genetic disorder such as muscular dystrophy.

In the province, every pregnant woman is screened for Down’s syndrome or other such disorders and it is at this point that the option of abortion normally comes up.” ………………….

(this is a edited version of this article for the comlete version go to timesonline website)