Precious life are seeking legal advice on the statement released by Amnesty International
Interviews: Listen to Bernadette Smyth's Interviews about this on both U105's Frank Mitchell Phone-In here and BBC's Nolan Live here.
Precious Life has accused Amnesty International of misleading and manipulating women and health professionals in Northern Ireland. On Thursday 7thSeptember, Amnesty announced that the threat of prosecution had been lifted for those in the medical profession who offer abortion referrals in Northern Ireland. Precious Life said the announcement was false and only served to expose Amnesty’s long-term plan - to introduce abortion in Ireland, right up to the moment of birth for any reason.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory QC told Amnesty International that he can see “no risk of criminal prosecution” for NHS employees in Northern Ireland who refer women to NNHS hospitals and clinics in the rest of the UK.
Grainne Teggart of Amnesty International hailed the announcement as a landmark policy change, claiming it was “a significant breakthrough in the fight for abortion rights here.” Amnesty’s announcement was also welcomed by Breedagh Hughes, NI Director of Royal College of Midwives.
Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “Amnesty’s announcement is ultimately misleading and manipulating women and the medical profession in Northern Ireland. The law in Northern Ireland is clear and unambiguous. GPs, clinics and other organisations like Marie Stopes International and the FPA are unable to organise abortion referrals to England for NI women without exposing themselves to the risk of prosecution. They can only give advice.”
She added, “There is no such thing as a right to abortion and it is illegal in Northern Ireland. Women deserve better than abortion, the deliberate killing of their own child, and as various studies have shown us, women are much, much safer without abortion. The recent Care Quality Commission report exposed the unethical and life-threatening conditions and practices of Marie Stopes International, including 400 botched abortions within just 8 weeks.”
Mrs Smyth said Amnesty and Breedagh Hughes have absolutely zero disregard for our democratic process. “They display a total contempt for our pro-life laws that protect mothers and babies. Breedagh Hughes does not speak for the medical profession in Northern Ireland. Rather, she speaks solely for herself and her own pro-abortion agenda. She has brought shame on the Royal College of Midwives.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “Amnesty International, among others, have campaigned for years for the Department of Health to issue specific guidelines and now we find these organisation using these same guidelines to manipulate vulnerable women and the medical profession. This announcement has only served to expose Amnesty’s long-term plan - to introduce abortion in Ireland, right up to the moment of birth for any reason.”
Precious Life will continue working to keep abortion not only illegal but unthinkable.