Extreme group’s leaflets feature holocaust image

Leaflets criticising the TD who chairs the Dáil committee hearing opinion on legislating for the X case, and likening abortion to the Holocaust, are being sent to homes in Cork.

The leaflets were distributed in suburbs of Cork City over the past three days. They show a picture of bodies piled up alongside a picture of an aborted foetus, and state: “The German people let this happen because they didn’t speak out. Are you and I going to let this happen?” The group that sent the leaflets asks people contact Jerry Buttimer to express their viewpoint.

However, some recipients have mistakenly assumed that the leaflet had been delivered on Mr Buttimer’s behalf.

Mr Buttimer has refused to comment on this or any of the hatemail he has received ever since the Dáil Health Committee began hearing expert opinion on the proposed new legislation which makes the X case judgment into law.

He has said he will comment when his body of work is completed.

One woman who received the leaflet, Maayan Yolzari, said: “I come from a Jewish background and have never been so insulted in my life, this comparison is racially insensitive and absurd.”

Patrick O’Mahony, who also viewed the leaflet, called the leaflet “racist, obnoxious, inconsiderate, and moronic”.

Last week, Cork for Life activists targeted Mass-goers in parts of the county, handing out leaflets asking them to protest at Government TDs’ offices against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

The leaflet asks people to continue to protest outside the TDs’ offices for an hour once a week “as long as the Government proceeds with legislation for baby killing”.

Fine Gael’s Cork East deputy Tom Barry said he had received extreme and nasty comments from those lobbying against the legislation.

Deputy Barry said: “I find the baby-killing reference repulsive and shocking. We are not baby-killers. I will make my decisions based on my conscience and I will not be bullied into it. This is not a simple black and white issue.”

His constituency colleague David Stanton also refuted the “baby-killing” label, saying he was against abortion on demand.