20 years on - Action on the X Case - Public Meeting

by pat c Fri Feb 17, 2012 18:08

Abortion legislation to be tabled
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0217/....html
KITTY HOLLAND

Fri, Feb 17, 2012

Legislation to provide for limited access to abortion will be introduced in the Dáil next week.

The legislation, to make abortion legal where there is a “real and substantial risk to the life” of the pregnant woman, will be introduced by Socialist Party TD Clare Daly in private members’ time and will be voted on in the House on April 19th.

Over 60 organisations and individuals - including seven TDs, two Senators, trade unions, academics and doctors - have called for “immediate legislation in line with the 'X' case.”

The "Action on X Alliance" today gave a press briefing to mark the 20th anniversary of the of the High Court injunction that barred a 14-year old girl from travelling to Britain for an abortion. Known as "X", the girl had been raped.

Two days later, amid a public outpouring of sympathy for the girl and anger at the injunction, the Supreme Court ruled abortion was legal where there was a real and substantial threat to the life of the pregnant woman or girl, including suicide.

The girl at the centre of the case miscarried the pregnancy.

Dublin West TD Patrick Nulty, who was expelled from the Labour parliamentary party after voting against the budget, said it was “shameful” that 20 years after the Supreme Court gave its ruling and after two referendums on the issue, six successive Governments had “failed" to act.

“It is unprecedented and has not happened since, that the Supreme Court would give such a clear ruling and that it is not acted on by government," he said.

Orla O’Connor, acting chief executive of the National Women’s Council, described the inaction of governments on the case as a “violation of women’s rights - that they are forced to travel to Britain, over 4,000 every year, to end their pregnancies”.

She said the situation for poor women with crisis pregnancies was “all the more horrific” as “very often they simply don’t have the means to travel”.

Ailbhe Smith, academic and founder of the Feminist Open Forum, had been fighting for abortion rights since the late 1970s.

“I thought at the time, as a young woman, that my country would one day stand by my right as a citizen to access abortion if I needed it. Then later I felt I was fighting for my daughter’s rights. Now it looks that I may be fighting for it for my granddaughter, if I have a granddaughter. And if I have to fight for my great-granddaughter’s rights, I will too.”

The Action on X Alliance is planning a public meeting in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday evening at 7pm.

by chick Sat Feb 18, 2012 02:26

"the situation for poor women with crisis pregnancies was “all the more horrific” as “very often they simply don’t have the means to travel”."

This is a key point. Its not a problem for rich girls at all.

Having accompanied a friend to london after she accidentally got pregnant, I can attest that this is a harrowing experience if you are poor.

If we had been rich girls then it would have been much easier.

As for the moral issue, the girl wrestled with her own troubled conscience and guilt and that was more than enough misery without her having to be put through this harrowing gauntlet; the punitive cost and the difficult uncomfortable budget boat / bus / train to an alien place surrounded by strangers, finding affordable accomodation, often far away from the clinic etc. Walking around and getting lost in london in the rain with sore feet, morning sickness and lugging a big bag around. It was very depressing and miserable for her. And most of the hardship could have been avoided if we weren't such a bunch of hypocrites around here.

The rich can book a comfortable flight and a nice hotel nearby and get taxis without a thought. Maybe take in a west end show and eat in a nice restaurant to distract from the issue.

A considerably different experience!!

by Damien M - PW Sat Feb 18, 2012 15:13

How is it possible to 'accidentally get pregnant'?

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Feb 18, 2012 15:52

..for you.

You know what they say...if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.

by chick Sat Feb 18, 2012 21:23

"how can you accidentally get pregnant"

it was an accident. unintentional. as in forgot to take the pill, got sick while on the pill, burst a condom, coil fell out etc etc. Contraception is a fiddly business at the best of times!

as the message on the condom machine says:
"dad says these don't work", "insert baby for refund" (not to mention "this chewing gum tastes terrible" !!)

if it was your teen sister would you be so quick to judge Damien?