FG rift over hospital boycott of abortion

Fresh faultlines in Fine Gael’s bitter battle over abortion have emerged as TDs clashed on whether hospitals have the right to boycott X-case legislation.

The uneasy truce in the party since five deputies were expelled for their anti-abortion stance has been broken by a row over “conscientious objectors”.

Mayo TD John O’Mahony has backed a director of the Mater Hospital, Fr Kevin Doran, after he stated the institution could not carry out terminations due to its Catholic ethos.