Senator Rónán Mullen has called on the Irish Independent to apologise to members of the pro-life movement in Limerick for a report it ran last week on the baseless claim that hospital staff were leaking information to pro-life supporters about the times and dates that abortions are happening at University Hospital Limerick.

In the piece written by journalist Ellen Coyne, quotes were attributed to pro-life volunteer Antoinette Fitzgibbon that she never gave to the newspaper. The report also failed to include one of Ms Fitzgibbon’s actual quotes where she made clear that she was not privy to any information about the days and times that abortions took place at the hospital. 

By selectively editing and omitting key quotes from Ms Fitzgibbon, the Irish independent piece unfairly created the impression that members of the pro-life movement in Limerick were being evasive about the reason why some of the peaceful prayer gatherings outside the hospital happened to occur on the same day that abortions were being performed.

In the Seanad on Wednesday, Senator Mullen complimented Gript Media for releasing the recording of the interview between Ellen Coyne and Antoinette Fitzgibbon that they obtained. The recording raises very serious issues about Ms Coyne's subsequent reporting on the conversation.

Senator Mullen has called on the Irish Independent to apologise to Ms Fitzgibbon for the way she was misrepresented and to make additional corrections to the piece that appears online. The Pro Life Campaign has written to the editor of the Irish Independent documenting the unfairness of the report and seeking answers on what he proposes doing to rectify the situation. Pro-life supporters should also consider contacting the paper on the matter.

There’s another issue worth focussing on with regard to Ms Coyne's report. She seemed certain in her piece that abortions take place at the hospital on Wednesdays. Who provided her with this information? Is her knowing the times and dates when abortions happen not an example of the precise breach that was unfairly levelled against pro-life supporters without any evidence or proof whatsoever?

The Irish independent and Ms Coyne have a lot of explaining to do.

Watch Senator Rónán Mullen’s contribution in the Seanad here

Cavan Councillor Sarah O’Reilly of Aontú has branded as “deeply concerning” the findings of a recent study by Students for Life showing that the State funded My Options hotline are encouraging women conflicted about having an abortion to nonetheless book an abortion appointment.

Speaking this week about the recent revelations unearthed by Students for Life, Cllr O’Reilly said:

“As someone who experienced unplanned pregnancy in the past myself, and as a pro-life county councillor, I was very concerned to read the findings of the research project undertaken by Students for Life Ireland. The idea that women who explicitly tell the so-called “My Options” helpline staff that they are unsure about going ahead with abortion are still being encouraged to go ahead and book abortions is very troubling. Words like ‘choice’ and ‘options’ ring hollow if only one choice is being pushed by the HSE”.

Cllr O’Reilly continued: “This issue is scandalous – and I have pro-choice friends who would agree with me on this – nobody should face pressure to have an abortion. There needs to be an investigation into this”.

“Research we in Aontú have undertaken found that while millions of euro have been spent on abortion, by government, nothing whatsoever has been spent on promoting positive alternative options, this needs to be addressed also. When it comes to the abortion debate in Ireland there is no balance at the moment, but I would really hope the media will pick up on this phenomenal research by Students for Life, and report the findings of their investigation”, concluded Cllr O’Reilly.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has to date refused to publicly comment on the damning revelations that have come to light about the way My Options is operating.

In an open letter to world famous singer Nicki Minaj, the US writer and researcher Bettina di Fiore has thanked the rap artist for her song ‘Autobiography’ about abortion regret. Writing this week, Ms di Fiore said: “A few days ago, someone pointed me toward the lyrics to your song, ‘Autobiography.’ I didn’t know very much about you or your music before that, but after reading verse three, I feel like we are sisters.”

She continued: “Reading these words brings tears to my eyes, because I get it. I had my first abortion at age 16, mostly because the father insisted, and everybody I went to for advice told me I wasn’t ready. They told me my child deserved better than what I could give her – as if killing her was somehow a way of doing better by her. Like you, I ‘adhered to the nonsense’ and believed the doubts these poisonous voices planted inside my head.”

Minaj, who became the first solo female rap artist to reach one billion views on YouTube for one of her songs has talked openly about her abortion and in her song ‘Autobiography’ addresses the issue directly.

Here’s one of the verses from ‘Autobiography’:

Please, baby, forgive me
Mommy was young, mommy was too busy tryna have fun
But I don’t pat myself on the back for sending you back
‘Cause God knows I was better than that
To conceive you then leave you, the concept alone seems evil
I’m trapped in my conscience, I adhered to the nonsense
Listened to people who told me I wasn’t ready for you
But how … would they know what I was ready to do?
And of course, it wasn’t your fault
It’s like I feel you in the air, I hear you saying
“Mommy don’t cry, can’t you see I’m right here?”
I gotta let you know what you mean to me
When I’m sleeping, I see you in my dreams with me
Wish I could touch your little face or just hold your little hand
If it’s part of God’s plan, maybe we can meet again

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