When Enda Kenny used the ‘crosier’ of the parliamentary party whip to bully Fine Gael TDs into supporting his abortion Bill, and he ‘excommunicated’ from the Fine Gael parliamentary party Deputies Lucinda Creighton, Terence Flanagan, Peter Mathews, Billy Timmins and Brian Walsh for honouring Fine Gael’s general election pledge not to introduce abortion legislation, there were very few criticisms of his actions by media commentators.

There is grave concern among doctors across the specialities about the proposed legislation for termination of pregnancy in the case of threatened suicide on the part of the mother.

In relation to reports that Catholic politicians who vote for the legalising of abortions in Ireland may face excommunication from the Catholic Church, I would like to point out that Fine Gael has threatened to definitely “excommunicate” from the parliamentary party any TDs or Senators who oppose this abortion legislation, despite the fact that in doing so, these elected representatives would be defending human life, and honouring Fine Gael’s general election promise not to introduce abortion legislation.

I APPLAUD the comments made by Dr Cliodhna Donnelly (Letters, July 12).

TO say that an out of hours emergency skeleton service for Roscommon to treat critically ill patients is comparable to a fully equipped hospital already available in the area is outrageous.