Church must ‘condemn anti-abortion activists’

The leaders of the Catholic Church need to condemn anti-abortion groups that are disseminating “vile and vitriolic” flyers and issuing violent threats to TDs, said the chair of the Oireachtas committee.

Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer, who chaired the hearings on abortion legislation, said he received emails threatening to assault him “from neck to naval and lower” and warning he will “burn in hell” if the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill becomes law.

Earlier this week, flyers likening abortion to the Holocaust were sent to householders in his constituency. Recipients were asked to make their views known to Mr Buttimer.