Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group has slammed calls for the introduction of dangerous and deadly DIY home abortions from Sinn Féin Vice-president Michelle O’Neill in response to the coronavirus lockdown.
Ms O’Neill recently voiced her support for the introduction of home abortions in Northern Ireland in the form of ‘telemedicine services’ during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Deputy First Minister, who welcomed the introduction of an extreme Westminster-imposed abortion regime, also urged Health Minister Robin Swann to accelerate the implementation of an extreme new abortion law in Northern Ireland in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
“We’re talking about responding to a woman’s need at time of the Covid-19 crisis, women shouldn’t be left out. This is about compassionate healthcare and making sure there’s support for women who find themselves in vulnerable situations,” Ms O’Neill said.
However, Bernadette Smyth, of Precious Life, accused Ms O’Neill of manipulating the health crisis to promote abortion, pointing out the fact that the NHS is already at “breaking point” trying to save lives.
“In a time of a national health crisis, the emphasis should be on preserving lives. It is absolutely outrageous that Michelle O’Neill is so focused on endangering women’s health and depriving unborn children of life at a time when we are uniting to protect life during this pandemic,” she said.
“We find ourselves in an unprecedented time, as we unite under a shared understanding that all human life is precious, yet our Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill is manipulating this health crisis to once again promote abortion.”
Citing Ms O’Neill’s comments on abortion being “compassionate healthcare”, Mrs Smyth added that “there is nothing compassionate about deliberately ending the life of a developing child in the womb” and insisted that “abortion is not healthcare”.
“It is disgraceful that at a time when we are having to postpone life-saving and essential healthcare, such as cancer screenings and cancer treatments to preserve hospital equipment, beds and staff, our Deputy Health Minister is pushing for the introduction of abortion at all costs,” she said. “Michelle O’Neill’s radical and out of touch abortion agenda not only includes the immediate imposition of a law which allows abortion up to the point of birth, but also the introduction of dangerous and deadly DIY home abortions.”
Mrs Smyth also highlighted the risks of the abortion pills advocated for home use by Ms O’Neill, warning that these pills are “noted to lead to a range of horrifying complications, from haemorrhaging to incomplete abortions, not to mention the psychological consequences such as depression and anxiety”.
Picture: Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. (Liam McBurney/PA).