Campaigners give opposing views on the ‘difficult case’

Campaigners for both sides of the abortion issue revealed their views on the tragic case.

The Pro Life Campaign said the life of the unborn child needed to be remembered in the case of a young pregnant mother on life support in a Midlands hospital — and said that the current legal position was not to blame.

In a statement, it also said it was a “difficult case”.

Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said: “Our sympathy goes out to the family of the young woman in this tragic case. This is one of these most difficult of situations brought about by modern medicine.

“Cases like this have arisen elsewhere so it is simplistic when people seek to blame the eighth amendment to the Constitution for what is happening. It is the sign of a mature society that the life of the baby in this case is acknowledged and taken into account.

“Modern medicine puts at the disposal of doctors a huge range of extraordinary interventions. But there is never an obligation to employ extraordinary means. Where doctors and family members are coming to decisions in such cases, it is appropriate that the life of the baby should be considered,” she added.

“Recent remarks from the legal representative of Ms Y in the High Court that the leaking of information on her case in both print and broadcast media ‘compounded her illness’, underline the need for restraint and respect for the privacy of the family in this latest sad case. As we have seen so often in recent times, cases like this are used by certain lobby groups to push for the repeal of the eighth amendment rather than allow a rounded discussion of the real issues involved.”

Pro-choice group the Abortion Rights Campaign took a different view, saying the case highlights the “inhumane” laws currently in place and insisting the woman involved should not be treated like a “vessel”.

“The family of this woman are being denied the opportunity to bury and mourn their daughter, and she herself is denied any dignity in death. Our laws facilitate this monstrous treatment,” said spokeswoman Cathleen Doherty. “The appalling treatment of Ms Y earlier this year made it abundantly clear our laws are flawed and unworkable, yet our Government wring their hands. It is said that hard cases made bad laws, but we see in Ireland that bad laws make for hard cases.

“The Abortion Rights Campaign calls for a resolution in accordance with the wishes of the family, so that they can begin the process of mourning their daughter.”