Taoiseach heckled by pro-life protesters at statue unveiling

Around 200 pro-life protesters jeered and heckled Taoiseach Enda Kenny as he unveiled a statue in Longford yesterday.

Protesters carrying placards displaying aborted foetuses and anti-abortion slogans, ignored a request for silence from the Taoiseach as he read the names of the North Longford Flying Column. Having verbally abused the Taoiseach when he arrived at Ballinalee, the pro-life protesters chanted “keep your promise” during Mr Kenny’s speech as the statue of General Sean Mac Eoin was uncovered.

“Right of legitimate protest in our country of course is a right that is available to everybody and we respect that that should be a peaceful right at all times,” Mr Kenny told the protesters. “But I would like to say to those people across the road, it is my privilege to read out the 49 names of those of the flying column of Longford and I would respectfully request that they remain silent while these names are being read.”

The appeal fell on deaf ears and protesters continued to shout remarks as he read the names.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin made a speech at the 200th anniversary of St Finnian’s Church in Newcastle where he warned the pro-life movement to avoid extreme behaviour before accusing others of taking “cheap pot shots at the Church”.

”We are called unhesitatingly to present the Church’s teaching with clarity and vigour, but always in a way which reflects the caring message of Jesus Christ, avoiding the use of intemperate language and gestures. But this is not a moment in which the hunting season is open for anyone and all to take cheap pot-shots at the Church,” he said.

Fine Gael senator Fidelma Healy-Eames revealed in recent days that she won’t be voting with the Government on the abortion bill. She and Deputy Peter Mathews have tabled a motion at the parliamentary party meeting this week looking for a free vote on the issue of abortion. Peter Mathews also wants suicidal ideation removed from the bill as a grounds for abortion.

As of yet, it’s unknown how many Fine Gael members will vote against the Government bill. Michael Creed, John O’Mahony, James Bannon, Terence Flanagan, Brian Walsh, John Joe Phelan and Paul Bradford could not be contacted yesterday.

The second stage debate on the abortion bill begins tomorrow.