05/12/2012

Thousands Joins Anti-Abortion Vigil

Thousands of people attended a vigil outside the Daíl on Tuesday night urging the government not to introduce abortion, under any circumstances, in Ireland.

More than 2,000 demonstrators from the group Pro Life lit candles and hoisted religious banners and signs reading "Fine Gael Keep Your Pro Life Promise".

The group said the vigil sent a clear message to Fine Gael "not to betray their pro-life promise to protect women in pregnancy and ensure that the duty of care to the baby is also upheld".

Caroline Simons, a lawyer and member of the Pro Life Campaign, which organised the protest, told supporters that "once the government tries to legislate for the X Case, there is no going back".

"Any reassurances that you're going to be given over the next two months that abortion won't be introduced and they're going to talk about medical intervention on limited grounds is false," she told the large crowd.

Supporters, ranging from members of the clergy and church groups to college students, children and adults of all ages and backgrounds, stood in the rain for more than an hour as the Government began debating the report on the expert group on abortion inside the Dail.

(H/GK)


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