Yearly Archives: 2016

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Ellen Coyne, in the Ireland edition of The Times, writes:

A mother of two who was pregnant with a baby suffering from a fatal foetal abnormality claims that she was advised to travel to Britain to undergo the first part of a termination before travelling home and faking a miscarriage.

Sarah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said she was told to travel to a British hospital to have an injection that would stop her baby’s heart, before returning to Ireland and saying that she believed that she had miscarried.

However, her consultant allegedly declined to confirm that Sarah would be cared for on her return home when contacted by British doctors.

Sarah described her experience as “horrific” and said that she was forced to travel to Britain twice before finally having a termination at almost 24 weeks. She ended up having to smuggle her son’s body home in the back of her car and then became seriously ill with sepsis.

“When I came back to Ireland I was to present myself at [the hospital] with lack of movement. I was not supposed to tell them what I had done. I had to play out this drama; what’s our story? What’s the lie I have to keep up?” Sarah said.

“They were going to scan me, they were going to tell me that they were very sorry, that the baby had passed away. I was not to let on that I had had a feticide injection, and then I was supposed to be induced and deliver.”

“…Three consultant obstetricians have separately confirmed to The Times that they were aware of other Irish hospitals telling women they can go to England for the first half of a termination.”

“One said that consultants who told women about the practice could face legal action if they were seen to be taking part in the second half of an illegal abortion.”

Woman in fatal foetal abnormality case speaks out about ‘horrific experience’ (The Times)

Sarah’s story (The Times)

Sarah’s story:activists demand change to law (The Times)

Willingness to travel for termination proves law is failing (Ellen Coyne, The Times, opinion)

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Jack Leahy tweetz:

“There is actually a queue of students registering to vote at Tralee Garda Station!”

Check The Register

Previously: The Student Vote

UPDATE:

Meanwhile, in Maynooth…

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And in Galway…

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Via Aoife USI Welfare and Cathal Sherlock

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Niamh Burke Kennedy writes:

“I know you don’t normally do this but I left a pair of Bose headphones in a Dublin Bike basket that I parked on Herbert Street, Dublin 2, this morning at around 11am. They were a gift and I would love to try and recover them. They are black and in a black Bose bag. Any help would be massively appreciated. Thanks.”

Anyone?

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Outside Gandon House this morning

Further to the erection of bars outside the Department of Social Protection in Gandon House, Dublin, where homeless people used to sleep…

Ciaran O’Rourke writes:

The Department of Social Protection is meant to be responsible for fighting homelessness, not making conditions even more unbearable for rough sleepers in Dublin city centre.

The recent installation of anti-homeless devices at the Department office building on Amiens street is an unacceptable measure, described in the following terms by the Director of Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) Anthony Flynn:

“[From] the department that is supposed to look after our vulnerable people…This the most unsympathetic way of dealing with the homeless crisis, it’s a ‘not in my doorstep attitude’ and we certainly condemn it.”

Accountability, however, has been lacking in the responses of both the Department of Social Protection and the Office of Public Works, which apparently manages the building in conjunction with a private landlord.

But it’s time for government to stop shirking responsibility. An Tánaiste Joan Burton is also Minister for Social Protection, and TD Simon Harris is Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works. Let’s call on them to take action against this appalling measure, and to advocate immediately for the removal of all anti-homeless devices from Gandon House.

Those who wish can sign a petition to remove the bars here

Previously: Invest In Spikes

Fending For Himself

Thanks Ciaran

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Directors of elections for Labour Alan Kelly, for Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes, Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher and Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carty, with RTÉ’s Sharon Ní Bheoláin this morning

Magdalene Hayden, assistant to Senator Katherine Zappone, writes:

The gender disparity in media is glaringly obvious, particularly when you examine the media coverage provided to female politicians on currents affairs programming in Ireland, according to Independent general election candidate for Dublin South West Katherine Zappone. For example, in recent weeks there were no female politicians participating in some of Ireland’s flagship political programmes.

During her recent feminism conference in Tallaght, attended by over 300 people, women from all walks of life shared their experiences and a common thread between them all was a sense of frustration at the imbalance of gender representation in Irish media.

Journalist, broadcaster, and activist Una Mullally made an impassioned call for media organisations to tackle the massive gender disparity endemic in our news and media organisations. She believes that a gender audit is the only realistic way to tackle the lack of representation of women in the media, while also examining the lack of women in positions of power in the industry itself.

Zappone echoes the sentiments of Mullally as someone who has been collaborating with and educating women, helping them achieve their potential for over 30 years. Having helped sow the seeds of many local women’s journeys into higher education via An Cosán, the Jobstown-based education centre, Zappone believes the time for an Independent voice with a passion for equality is now. Katherine champions equal opportunities for women in the workplace, education, health services and public life.

FIGHT!