Group says anti-abortion protest at Cork hospital shows need for safe access zones

Together for Safety advocate, Karen Sugrue, said: 'We voted for safe access to medical care, and five years on, we still do not have that'

A hospital spokesman said protests have been taking place since legislation allowing for terminations was enacted after the 2018 referendum. File picture: Larry Cummins

An anti-abortion protest took place again at Cork University Maternity Hospital this week, which Together for Safety advocates said shows the urgent need for safe access zones.

In July, the Government gave approval for legislation on 100m safe access zones around healthcare services providing termination of pregnancy.

A small protest took place outside the gates into CUMH and Cork University Hospital on Thursday, witnessed by patients entering for 8am appointments. Access through the gates was not blocked however.

A hospital spokesman said protests have been taking place since legislation allowing for terminations was enacted after the 2018 referendum, known as Repeal the Eighth.

“These protests are infrequent, usually taking place early in the morning from 7.30am to 8.30am. They are attended by a small number of protesters, typically between two and four,” he said.

“To date, CUMH has not received any complaints from patients regarding the protests.” 

Limerick-based advocate with Together for Safety, Karen Sugrue, said: “The thing about safe access zones is that they will put an end to all of that. Really, the legislation allows people scope to go into the hospital for the whatever they are going in for.” 

Women and their partners can be vulnerable during this time, she said, especially if something goes wrong with the pregnancy.

She said:

We voted for safe access to medical care, and five years on, we still do not have that.

She said there had been “a concerted cross-party effort” in the Dáil earlier this year to move the legislation forward.

She called on political parties to continue this co-operation and ensure the law is quickly enacted this year, saying: “The Dáil is going to have to make this a priority when it comes back on the twentieth of September.” 

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said in the Dáil: “The Bill is a general prohibition on expression, assembly or protest in relation to termination of pregnancy services.

“It does not interfere with the right to advocate in favour or against abortion, apart from in the limited areas covered by safe access zones and in the limited fashion covered by the concept of 'prohibited conduct' as set out in section 2.”