Abortion: Let’s ease burden of silence and shame

I’D like to commend the Irish Examiner for trying to present people’s experiences of abortion “in an effort to inform the debate in a rational, fair and honest way” (April 26).

Unfortunately, in this culture of silence, it is often extremely difficult for women publicly to admit to making the choice to terminate their pregnancies, particularly in a climate where strong (and primarily male) voices, who probably have never had to experience feeling forced to make this most wrenching decision, are telling them that whatever the reason, it is never good enough.

Every day, individuals and couples are having to make extremely difficult decisions for themselves, their families and their futures, with the added burden of guilt and shame through being forced to make an expensive and often secret trip to Britain or mainland Europe.

One can only hope that a positive decision in the recent case three women took to the European Court of Human Rights (‘ABC’ v Ireland 2009) will force the Government to clarify the existing legislation and enforce medical guidelines for when abortions can be legally performed in Ireland, easing at least a little of that burden of silence and shame.

Jennifer DeWan

Dominick Street

Cork