Former MLA Francie Brolly resigns from Sinn Féin over abortion
Prominent Republican Francie Brolly has resigned from Sinn Féin over its stance on abortion.
The former East Derry MLA recently left the party along with Lee Devine. Both former Sinn Féin members, self described life-long republicans, made the decision following the party's decision to extend access to abortions in Ireland last year. Sinn Féin's previous stance was support for abortion in 'limited' cases, such as 'fatal foetal abnormality' - however, at last year's Ard Fheis members of the party voted in support of broad-based abortion, where there is a 'risk to the health of the mother.'
In a move that prompted outcry, the party also voted rejecting a motion that would have allowed representatives a “conscience vote” on the issue. Mr Brolly said he was disappointed that the motion on a conscience vote was defeated.
“Had they allowed that I think a lot of elected members in Sinn Féin would have been very relieved.”
In 2016 Mr Brolly's wife Anne, a former Limavady councillor and member of Sinn Féin, revealed she had left the party over its then stance on abortion. The couple are prominent figures in Cherish All The Children Equally, a prominent pro-life group set up by republicans to oppose abortion on both sides of the border. The group's ethos is to follow in the footsteps of the 1916 proclaimation, to "cherish all the children of the nation equally."
Mr Brolly said over the last two years he has written to all of Sinn Féin's elected representatives, including former president Gerry Adams, outlining his views.
“I am totally opposed to abortion in any circumstances,” he said.
“It's wrong, you just can't justify the killing of an innocent human being whether it's born or unborn.”
Unequivocal in his pro-life views, he added that “the only difference between me now and when I was in my mother's womb is I'm a lot older and I think better developed".
A retired teacher, he and his wife are also well known on the music scene across Ireland and their son Joe is a former Derry All-Ireland winner and a familiar face as a GAA pundit with RTE.
Mr Brolly said Sinn Féin is a party "that's difficult to get a voice in", with ordinary members not being “properly included” in making serious decisions.
“There's an element of control in how Sinn Féin organises itself - whatever you believe, in Sinn Féin you do what you are told."
“It's a matter of conscience for all those people. I have my own conscientious objection to abortion,” he said, referring to the fact he is not campaigning for people to leave.
“The point I would make is if people have not got freedom of conscience you have no freedom and if there's no freedom there's no republic.
“What kind of republic could we expect to have under Sinn Féin where they would control the conscience of the people?”
Mr Brolly's former colleague Mr Devine said his decision to leave the party had been “very difficult".
“I agree with every single one of their policies except this one," he said.
“I am very much still a republican.”