Bobby Aylward ‘not on abortion crusade’

Pro-life TD Bobby Aylward has said he is “not on a crusade” to oppose the upcoming abortion referendum ahead of special meeting of Fianna Fáil TDs and senators tonight.

Party finance spokesman Michael McGrath became the latest Fianna Fáil figure to oppose plans to liberalise the abortion laws yesterday, describing the repeal of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution as “a step too far”.

He said that he would favour replacing, rather than repealing, the amendment, which currently equates the right to life of the unborn to that of the mother.