Precious Life open book of Condolence for Baby Alfie Evans
-- PRESS RELEASE --
Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life have officially opened a Book of Condolence for baby Alfie Evans who died after Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool refused to allow his parents to take their child to Italy for treatment. Precious Life said the people of Northern Ireland are shocked and outraged that he was “sentenced to death” by doctors and the courts, and that the book will give people an opportunity to send their messages of love and support to Alfie’s parents. The book is available for signing in St Marys Church, Chapel Lane, Belfast.
Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “We are heartbroken with the news of Alfie’s death and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother and father, Kate and Tom. All right thinking people in Northern Ireland were shocked when Alder Hey Hospital removed Alfie’s life support without his parents’ consent. But we were truly inspired when Alfie defied doctors’ expectations by beginning to breathe on his own. Tom and Kate were also such an inspiration to us all - by fighting every step of the way for their son to be given oxygen, food. They made numerous pleas to the court for the right to travel to Italy for treatment for their son. But their pleas were denied when the courts sided with the hospital.”
She added, “Last week I travelled with other members of Precious Life to Liverpool to attend the vigil outside Alder Hey Hospital to show our support for Alfie and his parents. I was amazed by how many people from Northern Ireland were also there. A large group also gathered at St Marys Church in Belfast on Thursday when Precious Life organised a Prayer Vigil.”
“The prayers and support from the people of Northern Ireland for this little child and his parents was phenomenal, with thousands of goodwill messages filling social media. This Book of Condolence for little Alfie will give the people of Northern Ireland an opportunity to tell his parents Tom and Kate that the people of Northern Ireland share in their grief.”
Bernadette Smyth concluded, “Alfie Evans was effectively sentenced to death by doctors and the courts. The cruel and inhuman treatment of Alfie and his parents must never be allowed to happen again. The thoughts and prayers of the pro-life people of Northern Ireland are with Tom and Kate. Precious Life invite people to come along and sign the Book of Condolence in St. Mary’s in Chapel Lane. We hope the messages written in the book will bring Alfie’s parents some level of comfort and peace.”
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