Youth Defence: Our ads like death camp images

Anti-abortion group Youth Defence has rejected criticism of the use of controversial images in its campaign ads and compared them to the publications of corpses in Nazi death camps.

The group was responding to Chairman of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) who told representatives their campaign methodology “needs to be reviewed”.

Senator Martin Conway (Fine Gael) asked them if there would “appalling bill board campaigns throughout this country over the next few months.”

Youth Defence spokesperson Dr Sean Ó Domhnaill responded that after the closure of death camps following the Second World War “pictures were shown all over the world of corpses piled upon corpses piled upon corpses, because they wanted to make sure this never happened again”.

He said: “If you believe, as the vast majority of people in this country do, that abortion involves the killing of an innocent human being, then if you don’t like seeing the reality of it, don’t legalise it.”

Mr Buttimer also appealed for respect in the use of social media to debate the issue, saying abuse is coming from “all sides”.

Meanwhile, four obstetricians have written to Mr Buttimer expressing “serious concern” at the imbalance of opinions expressed at Tuesdays’ hearing.

They said the impression of a unanimous approval for abortion legislation was misleading.

“The presentation by the Institute of Obstetricians did not take account of our views. We were not consulted by them or given a copy of their submission,” they said.

“No consideration whatsoever was given to the view that the current legal position is no barrier to excellent maternal healthcare in Ireland.”

The letter was signed by: Dr John Monaghan of Portiuncula Hospital; Dr Eileen Reilly of Galway Clinic; Dr James Clinch of The Coombe Hospital; and Trevor Hayes of Kilkenny.

They are seeking permission to appear before the committee to present an obstetrical view, it said, the committee has not considered.