Fianna Fáil senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has come out saying that allowing abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities would be “depriving future Special Olympics athletes of being born.”
His comments have been met with horror and disgust.
“I know many people who have Down Syndrome who play an active part in citizenship within this country and who are representing this country in the Special Olympics,” Ó Domhnaill said at the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill committee stage hearings in the Seanad this week.
“I think it’s important if we are having this debate that we acknowledge that” said the Donegal Senator.
“I could not support an amendment where human life would be destructed in the womb simply because the unborn child is disabled, because I think that sends out a very wrong message in relation to the protection and the rights of children who are currently disabled.”
Pic: Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill (Left) with Senator Denis O Donovan
“This has nothing to do with disability – it has to do with fatal foetal abnormality,” argued Labour senator Mary Moran.
“I’m personally horrified by what I’ve heard from you, Senator Ó Domhnaill” said Labour’s Aideen Hayden.
“You’ve suggested that every parent who has a disabled child is subject of this amendment, and I think that is just low, below the belt, absolutely uncalled-for and it demeans this chamber.”
“He doesn’t understand the word ‘fatal’ and ‘incompatible’,” exclaimed independent Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell.
Ó Domhnaill went to emphasises his point saying that approximately 3,100 abortions take place in the UK annually in cases where the foetus is diagnosed with a fatal abnormality or disability.
“A third of all those relate to Down’s syndrome” he said. “There are 700 children who are aborted in England who if born, would have Down’s syndrome.”
In what can only described as a heated debate full of roaring back and forth, only a fraction of the amendments actually being addressed.
Pics via Brian Ó Domhnaill
