We will not be silenced in 8th Amendment debate: Parents of children with Down Syndrome
A group representing parents of children with Down Syndrome have said they will not be silenced in the 8th Amendment debate.
It follows concerns which have been raised over the use of images of people with Down's Syndrome in a hard hitting billboard campaign.
Out in the Kingdom: Killarney, Tralee, Listowel, lots of support and beeps! Thank you for all your support! #savelives #savethe8th pic.twitter.com/PiPdb8ATyv
— Save Lives. Stop Abortion (@SaveLivesAlways) February 10, 2018
In an interview with The Guardian at the weekend Mr Martin supported the charity Down Syndrome Ireland who have urged all sides in the debate to avoid.
“I agree 100% with Down Syndrome Ireland on this,” Martin said. “All the experts we as parliamentarians spoke to over the last few months stated that the identification of the syndrome in 12 weeks of pregnancy is highly unlikely. So it is not a valid argument to use.
“The culture of respect in Ireland for people with Down’s syndrome will not change as a result of the repeal of the eighth amendment.”
A group representing parents of children with Down Syndrome have said they will not be silenced.
Micheal O'Dowd of the new group Disability Voices for Life says they will not hide their children away and will continue to make their feelings known during the lead up to the referendum.
He said: "People with Down Syndrome, people with disabilities are very much to the forefront of terminations that are taking place across Europe.
"It seems to me that Europe is almost sleepwalking into a situation where people with Down Syndrome will no longer be visible."
