Setting the facts straight on abortion issue

The letter to you from Dr Owen Gallagher regarding Savita Hallappanavar (Letters, September 22) and the abortion issue shows how confused even some educated people are on this issue.

I am a practising Catholic and I voted to support the amendment put to the people in 1983. This amendment was also supported by the Church at the time.

The wording stated that the”State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother guarantees in its laws to respect and as far as practicable by its laws to defend and vindicate that right”. The passing of the legislation last year referred to that same amendment, not one word of which was changed since 1983. How could anyone suggest that the influence of media or politicians was a factor in the passing of this legislation. Only the votes of the Irish people can change the wording. The people who say they are pro-life and pro-choice should stop making false statements as they are confusing the issue. Of course nobody forced abortion legislation into Ireland, as suggested by Dr Gallagher.