Column: Abortion is a reality in Ireland – now we need to legislate for it
Published: Thursday, July 14, 2011
IN 2010, A TOTAL of 4,402 women travelled from Ireland to Britain for abortion - 12 women every day.
Since abortion was legalised in Britain in 1967, more than 140,000 Irish women have had abortions abroad. Irish law on abortion is the most restrictive in Europe. Abortion is a criminal offence under 1861 legislation, carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
In 1983, our Constitution was amended to make the right to life of 'the unborn' equal to that of 'the mother'. This made our law even more restrictive; a pregnancy may only be terminated legally in order to save the life of the pregnant woman. There is no right to abortion in any other circumstance; even where a woman or girl has been raped or abused, or is carrying a non-viable foetus.