On Wednesday, Newstalksâs Pat Kenny interviewed abortion campaigner Ailbhe Smyth about the changes sheâs pushing for to make Irelandâs abortion law even more extreme.
Presenters like Kenny take great offence when theyâre called out for being campaigners masquerading as journalists. But no fair minded person could listen to Wednesday's interview and reach any other conclusion.
Kenny didnât display as much as a hint of journalistic curiosity or ask Smyth a single challenging question during the entire interview. He kept his interventions to a minimum to afford Smyth all the space she needed to drive home the points she wanted to make.
Not surprisingly, she took full advantage of the opportunity to propagandise for abortion, calling for the full decriminalisation of abortion up-to-birth and for the scrapping of the three-day period of reflection before an abortion happens. She painted a false picture for listeners that abortion remains rare in Ireland and that women still had great difficulty accessing them.
Based on her claims, Kenny could have reasonably asked her to explain the increase in the number of Irish abortions from 2,879 in 2018 to an incredible 8,876 abortions in 2022, as evidenced by the payment claims submitted to the HSE by abortion performing doctors. But pursuing questions like that would let the cat out of the bag about the new abortion law and Kenny had no interest in going there.
When Smyth called for the scrapping of the three-day wait before an abortion takes place, Kenny could have raised the fact that, Marie OâShea, author of the Governmentâs abortion review report made her recommendation to end the âthree-day waitâ without ever speaking to any of the almost 4,000 women who went for their first abortion appointment under the new law but didnât proceed with the abortion after the three days had elapsed. If Kenny was a fair and impartial journalist he wouldnât have given Smyth full control of the airwaves to say whatever she wanted without any pushback.
Pat Kenny and Ailbhe Smyth are never going to tell the public the full truth about whatâs happening under Irelandâs much celebrated new abortion law, or horrifying details like the fact that babies have survived late-term abortions under the new law and have been left to die alone in the corners of Irish hospitals breathing their last breath without anyone holding them or even acknowledging their existence. Thatâs the new âtolerantâ, âmodernâ Ireland weâve created that abortion supporters donât want to face.
On hearing about the latest one-sided media interview, we shouldnât despair and conclude that our efforts are pointless or that weâre competing against too many odds. Instead, take the opportunity and every opportunity you can to inform those closest to you about whatâs taking place. Itâs well worth our while taking Wednesdayâs interview as an example and sitting down with family members and friends and discussing with them what happened. Ask them if they think itâs fair that the media are behaving like this all the time and keeping the public in the dark about the true reality of whatâs taking place under the abortion law.
Itâs only when ordinary members of the public start to realise that theyâre being treated like fools by the media that positive changes will start to happen.Â
An Irish woman and her unborn baby were murdered in a frenzied attack all because the babyâs father âwanted a boyâ, according to evidence presented at the Old Bailey in London.
Liam Taylor, 37, stabbed his girlfriend Ailish Walsh 40 times at her home in north London, last December. Some of the stab wounds were aimed at the 22 week old unborn baby, the court heard.
In evidence, it was argued Taylor was upset about the pregnancy because the couple already had two girls and he wanted a boy.
Ms Walsh, 28, was seemingly trying to break up with Taylor at the time of the murder as he had a long history of being abusive and violent.
When Taylor was arrested by police, heâs alleged to have said: "Itâs crazy how one moment of madness can change your whole life."
The prosecution presented evidence that Taylor intended to kill the unborn baby but they did not call for a charge of child destruction as the baby was within the legal limit for abortion.
This horrifying case highlights yet again the pressure women regularly come under from partners and close relatives to abort their unborn babies. The reality of coercive abortion is one of the many taboos reinforced by the abortion industry, lest it expose the truth behind why many women end up having abortions.
Research conducted last year by Savanta ComRes for BBC Radio 4, revealed that 15% of women in the UK (aged 18-44) said that at some point in their life they experienced pressure to go through with an abortion they didnât want to have.
The tragic death of Ailish Walsh and her unborn baby shines a light on something else too: the twisted way media headlines describe the unborn as a âbabyâ when it is wanted and as a âfoetusâ when the media are pressing the case for abortion. They run for cover when asked to explain this inconsistency.
Ailish Walsh and her unborn baby should never have died in such a dreadful way. Our thoughts and prayers are with their grieving family. May they both rest in peace.
We are delighted to announce that our National Conference this year will take place on Saturday, 14th October 2023 in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4.
The theme of the conference is 'Growing the Pro-Life vote, Bringing about change at election time' and underlines our focus on getting more public representatives elected who will speak up courageously for human rights, for the right to life of unborn children and for care and support for women in unplanned pregnancy.
Stay tuned for updates on speakers in the coming weeks but for now, mark the date in your diary. See you there!Â
 With the Oireachtas adjourned for the summer, it presents a perfect opportunity to approach your local TDs and Senators and urge them to reintroduce some humanity into the debate on abortion. The Three-Year Review, a seriously flawed process which produced a one-sided and extreme report, will be considered by politicians in the autumn. Itâs important that we take action over the summer.
We have produced a quick and easy Virtual Postcard for you to sign, which will automatically send an email to your local TDs. Use the button below to navigate into your county on our website and find your constituency.
Itâs also important to have meetings with your TDs. These can be as simple as dropping into your local TDâs advice clinic to outline your concerns. Click below to register to lobby your local TDs. Donât worry â weâll help you every step of the way with advice on making the appointment to points you might consider raising.
We are heartened by the number of people actively involved and interested in meeting their politicians to express their views. The People Before Profit Bill which regrettably passed at 2nd stage of the DĂĄil on 31st May must also be countered. Even the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has said this Bill goes far beyond the recommendations of the Three-Year Review â which are already extreme in their own right.
During Summer 2023, it is crucial to engage with our politicians and remind them not to overlook the referendum promises. We need to fight to ensure our abortion policy is aimed at reducing the abortion rate.
Please take a moment to get involved in the Humanity Campaign. Remember even the smallest effort will make a big difference.
The seventh annual CeiliĂșradh Cois Life Dinner for Pro-Life Education will take place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 on Saturday, September 9th 2023 at 7:00pm.
Join us for an evening of celebration, live music, great company and dancing! Not only will this event be an opportunity to introduce more people to the pro-life cause, but itâs also a fantastic occasion to reunite with friends and fellow volunteers.
Our guest speaker this year is Lord David Alton. A leading human rights defender, David Alton has been a consistent voice for the oppressed and marginalised since he began his political career in Britain in 1979. First elected as a Liberal MP for a Liverpool constituency, he now sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. And as always, this event is supported by Senator RĂłnĂĄn Mullen.Â
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It is sure to be an uplifting and enjoyable evening and the proceeds of the dinner will ensure that the vital education and support work of the Pro Life Campaign can continue â including running educational programmes for young people in the pro-life movement on college campuses and through the Future Leaders Programme and assisting new mothers and those with unplanned pregnancy with practical items and support.
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The price of a table of ten is âŹ1,500. Individual tickets are âŹ150 each.  If you would like to join us on the evening, you can purchase your ticket(s) instantly below.  Please note if you wish to reserve tickets/a table and pay later or use a form of payment other than credit card payment, please email [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are putting out a call for anyone in possession of any documents, photographs, correspondence, etc. relevant to the Irish pro-life movement throughout the decades. We are particularly keen to receive anything in your possession related to periods such as the 1983 referendum. A comprehensive history of the pro-life movement is yet to be written, but the historians of the future will need primary sources. We are asking for people to get in touch with the Pro Life Campaign if they possess such material (no matter how old or dusty!) to ensure it is preserved now and not lost to the ages.Â
Vital Signs is the e-newsletter of the Pro Life Campaign. We hope you and your families are keeping well in these unusual times. This email is to update you on what we have been working on recently, including news stories, project updates, and details of upcoming events. If you want to get in touch with us please do so by emailing [email protected]
