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monday february 18 2019 thetimes.ie | no 72773 €2 (£1.80) IRELAND AND THE WORLD Italian job Schmidt’s team must play All the action themselves out of slump in Rome from the FA Cup Eddie O’Sullivan Sport weekend thegame Ex-Taliban US anti-abortionists set fighter can’t be kept out their sights on Ireland of country Exclusive Sidewalk Advocates for Life train campaigners to target women in hospital car parks Aaron Rogan Senior Ireland Reporter SIDEWALK ADVOCATES FOR LIFE TRAINING VIDEO A former Taliban fighter who has Ellen Coyne Senior Ireland Reporter claimed Irish citizenship cannot be Katie O’Neill Ireland Reporter barred from this country when he is released from prison in America, The American anti-abortion activists are Times can reveal. planning to open a sister operation in John Walker Lindh, an Irish-Ameri- Ireland to intervene in the treatment of can who converted to Islam as a teen- women trying to access GP clinics or ager, is due to be freed in May after hospitals offering terminations. being convicted in 2002 of supporting An undercover investigation by The the Taliban. Times has exposed how the US organi- Walker Lindh gained Irish citizen- sation is training campaigners to wait in ship in 2013 because his paternal grand- hospital car parks to target couples who mother was born in Donegal in 1929. have received a diagnosis of a fatal The details of his citizenship are in a US foetal abnormality to talk them out of intelligence summary published in the having an abortion. magazine Foreign Policy in 2017. The group advises as an “effective” A spokesman for the Department of tactic telling rape victims that having Justice confirmed to The Times that an an abortion will not “unrape” them and Irish citizen could not be prevented that a termination can be “rape like”. from entering the country. Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) “Irish citizens are not subject to im- has set up its first European operation migration control,” the spokesman said. in Ireland with Gianna Care, an anti- “Therefore, if a person has Irish citizen- abortion crisis pregnancy agency in ship and presents their Irish passport , which has previously been ex- on arrival, they will not be refused entry posed giving misleading advice. to the state.” An undercover reporter from The Previous reports suggest that the Times posed as a potential anti-abort- former fighter’s father, Frank Lindh, ion activist to receive training from holds an Irish passport. Mr Lindh has SAFL in addition to videos, documents said that he wants to move to Ireland and footage of the group’s activists op- with his son because he does not believe erating in the US. The material reveals that he will be able to lead a normal life a range of tactics to intercept women in America. and coax them into attending anti- The US intelligence report about do- abortion crisis pregnancy agencies as mestic terrorist inmates includes ex- part of its “peaceful” demonstrations. tracts from emails written by Walker SAFL recorded conversations with Lindh about his plans to move to Ire- women outside abortion clinics in land after his release. America to use as training videos. The The report also said that he had made Times was given documents explaining “pro-Isis” comments to reporters and how to target women using an un- had been dropped by his US attorney. proved “abortion reversal” technique. Walker Lindh confirmed that he The HSE has said that there is “no such planned to move to Ireland in a letter to thing”. Cage, a London-based organisation. A spokeswoman for the group said “I don’t really know what to expect that it was a law-abiding organisation American activists are spreading their anti-abortion message to Irish streets and seeking to lure women away from clinics from the Irish government,” he wrote. and accused The Times of planning to “I know virtually nothing about them. I reveal its “trade secrets”. She said that it those locations covered with peaceful demonstrations within certain distan- said: “I know it’s kind of technically ly- think the only reasonable way to was “incorrect to say we have plans to sidewalk advocates. Any hour of busi- ces of sites where terminations were of- ing but you’re doing some undercover present my case to them is to explain put sidewalk advocates in front of every ness that they’re open.” fered. Asked if there were “ways investigating to try and save lives.” my unique circumstances that make abortion centre in Ireland”. Abortion has been legal in Ireland around” the planned exclusion zones, SAFL confirmed to an undercover my survival in the US practically im- Bethany Mistretta, a programme since January 1. Since then there have Ms Mistretta said: “Oh yes, yes.” reporter that it had set up an Irish arm possible. manager for SAFL, was asked about the been concerns about anti-abortion She advised an undercover reporter through Gianna Care, an unregulated “Essentially I am seeking asylum proposed size of her organisation in Ire- demonstrations outside hospitals and to pose as a woman looking for abortion crisis pregnancy agency run by anti- from one country where I am a citizen land. She replied: “To have every abor- clinics. The government said that it services as a way to identify doctors abortion activists. A counsellor at the in another country where I am also a tion facility or every doctor’s office that wanted to legislate for “exclusion performing terminations. Ms Mistretta agency was exposed giving misleading citizen. The worst they can do is decline provides abortions, have every one of zones”, which would ban protests or said that she had done this before. She Continued on page 2, col 3 Continued on page 2, col 5

IN THE NEWS Bees are dying off Hospital cost anger Jihadist bride’s plea Nigeria calls off vote Citigroup buys tower Kearney to continue Butterflies and bees are A senior civil servant is under The British Isis bride Nigerians have expressed Citigroup is close to a Rob Kearney has said he will dying off in Ireland at an even pressure to answer questions Shamima Begum said that anger and disbelief over the £1.2 billion deal to buy the play on after the World Cup faster speed than the from the Oireachtas health “people should have decision to postpone the Canary Wharf skyscraper that as contract talks with the catastrophic rate of decline committee about the huge sympathy” for her after she country’s presidential houses its European HQ in a IRFU intensified, but admitted reported last week to be cost overruns on the National gave birth to a baby boy in a election five hours before polls commitment to Britain before he saw the appeal of going happening worldwide. Page 3 Children’s Hospital. Page 9 Syrian refugee camp. Page 11 were to open. Page 22 Brexit. Page 29 abroad. Page 48 6 1R M Monday February 18 2019 | the times NewsNews Anti-abortion activists US ‘sidewalk advocates’ target women and medics in Ireland

Ellen Coyne Senior Ireland Reporter Activist do’s and don’ts sensitive or identifying information”. Katie O’Neill Ireland Reporter Ms Mistretta said that activists should think of themselves as “a friend out Activists hope to use the fact women 6 “Let her know that the abortion is there who’s like, ‘hey I’ve got a free may be under financial pressure to coax not going to unrape her.” pregnancy test over here! Come on let’s, them into anti-abortion agencies. 6 “The abortion procedure is let’s go to this bathroom.’ She added: Training documents and videos seen rape-like in nature just with the “Don’t make it creepy.” by The Times reveal the strategies of an different tools and instruments The organisation is careful to keep its American anti-abortion group, which forcefully put into her body.” distance from other anti-abortion ac- has coached its Irish counterparts now 6 “You could even call up and say tivism, which can focus on the foetus that abortion is legal in Ireland. ‘I’m six weeks pregnant, I don’t know and portray the woman as a murderer. Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) what to do’ . . . I know it’s kind of An undercover reporter was told that has approved Gianna Care, the unregu- technically lying, but you’re doing activists had to completely invert their lated anti-abortion crisis pregnancy some undercover investigating here, usual order of priorities of 1, God; 2, the agency, as its first European centre for to try and save lives.” foetus; and 3, the woman. so-called sidewalk counselling. 6 “Don’t rail into them: ‘You’ve got “We’re not out there threatening the An investigation by this newspaper blood on your hands.’ We’re so women, yelling at them telling them in 2017 revealed that a “counsellor” at tempted to do that.” they’re going to go to hell kind of thing, Gianna Care had claimed that all 6 “If there’s nobody there to provide because that is going to make them run women would regret their abortion. the abortions then nobody is going inside so fast,” Ms Mistretta said. The unregulated agency was set up by to get it.” SAFL also tries to get the woman’s Carolyn O’Meara, a partner to talk her out of the abortion. activist. A training video told activists not to tell A new investigation by The Times has women. SAFL did not respond to ques- a woman’s boyfriend outside a clinic found that SAFL teaches activists how tions about how much financial that he’s “got blood” on his hands. to coax women trying to access abor- support it was able to offer women who Activists are coached in how to write tion services away from a hospital or continued their pregnancy. personal notes to “abortion-minded GP clinic and into an anti-abortion After the undercover reporter ex- women” avoiding the language of an agency. plained that abortion was a free public “aggressive pro-lifer”. Examples of Bethany Mistretta, a national pro- health service in Ireland, Ms Mistretta what not to say included “Please don’t gramme manager at SAFL, told a re- said: “Ugh! Yuck . . . That’s awful.” kill your baby” and anything that would porter posing as a potential activist that One of SAFL’s aims is to reduce the make the woman think activists were “hopefully” Irish doctors were charging number of doctors willing to provide strange, such as “I’ll adopt your baby”. women for pregnancy tests so that ac- terminations. “If there’s nobody there Beneath its modern veneer, SAFL tivists could undercut doctors by offer- to provide the abortions then nobody is holds conservative views on sex and ing them free of charge. Activists are going to get it,” she said. contraception. The Times reporter was told to use large, colourful coupons for SAFL gave an undercover reporter given leaflets that warn women against free ultrasound scans or pregnancy sample letters to send to property own- using the morning-after pill and an tests as a way to “seal the deal” and get ers, which warn that protesters will IUD (coil). The literature, which was women into anti-abortion agencies, in gather outside the property if it is rent- not attributed to SAFL, claimed that some cases even promising access to a ed to a doctor who provides abortions. emergency contraception “can kill little woman’s centre that does not charge. “The (area) is a prime destination for human beings”. “And I’m pretty sure I can get you in diners and shoppers, and I’m sure the It said single women should not use today,” they are told to say in training proprietors — not to mention your the IUD and should abstain instead, videos, to create the idea of scarcity. other tenants — would prefer the dis- which would save them the “emotional The coupons are attached to “bless- trict not become the scene of regular pain of broken sexual relationships,” ing bags”, filled with chocolate, lipstick outreach, and perhaps protests from including “feelings of being cheap or and anti-abortion leaflets. Activists other community members,” it said. used, abandonment, depression, who might be speaking to women on It added: “If Dr (name) is intending to jealousy, guilt and emptiness”. low incomes were told to use more ex- occupy an office in your building at (ad- Activists are told to wear high-visibil- pensive lip gloss in their bag to try to dress), we urge you to reconsider rent- ity vests to look professional and create persuade the woman into believing that ing the space to (him/her). As long as Dr the impression they are parking attend- they can offer financial support if she (name) is involved in the abortion in- ants, “which leads many clients to stop continues a pregnancy. The training dustry, we will continue to organise and ask where they can park — this en- documents say: “This works better outreach at (his/her) office along the ables a sidewalk advocate to start a con- because women who are worried about public right of way.” versation”. Vests with pockets are money will recognise you were able to Spreadsheets are given to activists to “handy” because the activist has some- give a nicer gift and therefore you can record the car licence numbers of staff where to put their model of a foetus. likely help her financially as promised.” working at centres that provide abor- Leading article, page 17 Documents included a “helpful tip” tion services, along with the time they for activists to “colour co-ordinate your arrive at work. A spokeswoman for blessing bags as much as possible, and SAFL said that it offered “street sheets” exclusive video consider colours women love”. so that activists could “track the num- Learn more about the activities and None of the training material seen by ber of clients” going in or out of a clinic. tactics of Sidewalk Advocates for Life The Times made any reference to offer- She said the organisation repeatedly and its plans for Ireland ing practical financial support to told activists they “may not take down On mobile, tablet and at thetimes.ie Bogus treatment pushed to reverse abortion

Ellen Coyne, Katie O’Neill GP up to nine weeks into pregnancy. is no medical or scientific evidence to on a progesterone regimen to counter- reversal’. Failure to continue, having Between nine and twelve weeks, support this theory. act the mifepristone,” the document taken the first medication, may result in Anti-abortion activists are planning to abortion services are available An undercover Times says. miscarriage and a healthy outcome target Irish women with an unproven in hospitals. The drugs reporter was offered train- Activists are told that “time is of the cannot be guaranteed. It is not a ‘relia- treatment for “reversing” an abortion. given for a medical ing by SAFL as part of its essence” when trying to “reverse” a ble medical practice’.” The HSE has said that there is “no abortion are mifepri- plan to develop a pres- termination. They are also given advice Some US states have adopted laws such thing” as abortion reversal and stone and misopros- ence of anti-abort- on how to identify women undergoing meaning that doctors are required to that any woman who attempted such a tol. The first drug is ion activists outside a medical termination. tell women that a medical abortion can process could have a miscarriage. It also taken at the every hospital and “If she comes out of the abortion be reversed after the woman has taken said that a “healthy outcome” of the doctor’s clinic and GP clinic in facility with a bag, there is hope that we the first pill. This is despite the fact that pregnancy could not be guaranteed in the second is Ireland. The train- can still save the baby’s life through the American College of Obstetricians such circumstances. taken 24 to 48 ing document [abortion reversal] as she likely has the and Gynaecologists (ACOG) issued The Times has seen training docu- hours later. gives activists tips second pill in-hand and has not taken it guidance in 2017 that said that abortion ments by Sidewalk Advocates for Life The idea of abor- on how to try to re- yet,” the training document says. “reversal” was not supported by (SAFL), which has set up an Irish opera- tion reversal is verse a termination. A guide to medical abortion from My science. tion. They reveal that the American popular among “When you en- Options, the HSE crisis pregnancy In a 2012 study six women who had group promotes an unproven tech- American anti-abort- counter a woman who advice service, says that mifepristone is taken the first abortion pill were admin- nique of “abortion reversal”, whereby it ion activists, right. It is has taken the first pill, this irreversible. “If you decide not to take istered different doses of progesterone. tries to convince women to undergo a based on the theory that increases the opportunity the second medication, there is a risk of Four of the women continued their hormone treatment after they have flooding a woman’s body with the that we have to reverse it and save harm to the foetus if you continue the pregnancies. ACOG said that this was taken the first of two pills. hormone progesterone can reverse the the baby. Let the woman know about [a pregnancy,” it says. “not scientific evidence that progester- Since January women can access effects of the first abortion pill and website that claims to offer abortion A spokeswoman for the HSE said: one resulted in the continuation of abortions through pills provided by a allow the pregnancy to continue. There reversal] and the opportunity to get her “There is no such thing as ‘abortion these pregnancies”. the times | Monday February 18 2019 1R M 7 NewsNews US ‘sidewalk advocates’ target women and medics in Ireland JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AP; ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/GETTY IMAGES; SIDEWALK ADVOCATES FOR LIFE Activists secretly film people outside sexual health clinic

Katie O’Neill, Ellen Coyne where a woman is having an abortion to stop the process. “You can go back and The US anti-abortion group planning say ‘it’s a emergency’. She needs to intercept Irish women accessing to see your face, she needs to see your abortion services has covertly filmed eyes.” women entering sexual health clinics Ms Muzyka and Ms Mistretta are without their knowledge. joined at the Florida clinic by Nate Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) Robertson, an outreach co-ordinator. shares the videos with members for the The demonstrators hand women purpose of training and supplied foot- “blessing bags” on their way into the age to The Times as part of an under- building. The bags contain expensive cover investigation in which a reporter chocolate and lipsticks as well as posed as an Irish anti-abortion activist. coupons for free pregnancy tests and The videos feature campaigners out- sonograms at a neighbouring pro-life side a women’s health centre in Florida clinic. trying to stop patients from entering. The campaigners also attempt to per- SAFL claimed this was the first time suade all of the women entering the campaigners had filmed and circulated health centre to leave and go to a differ- their interactions with women outside ent clinic where they can access free a facility that provided abortions. The services. demonstrators wore hidden micro- In another instance, Ms Mistretta phones and the video was taken from tells a woman who is picking up paper- across the road. “We have microphones work for one of her friends that “this on, but we’re undercover so nobody can place is gonna harm her and it’s gonna tell,” Bethany Mistretta, of SAFL, said. kill her baby”. All of the people who feature in the Ms Muzyka stops a car leaving the video other than the SAFL demonstra- clinic with a woman who has just had tors have their faces pixelated. an abortion. She hands leaflets to the In one encounter, a demonstrator woman’s partner, who is driving. After- tells a woman seeking a hysterectomy wards, she asks the other activists: not to enter the clinic. “This is an abor- “When I was handing them post-abor- tion facility . . . They don’t do hysterec- tive healing information and we were tomies here,” Lauren Muzyka, SAFL’s talking, was she starting to cry?” Ms executive director, tells her. Mistretta replies: “I think she looked a The campaigners also appeal to clinic little annoyed.” employees. Approaching one woman In an email to The Times, Ms Muzyka in her car, they say: “Ma’am, you don’t said that SAFL did not advise or permit have to work in the abortion industry.” the group’s sidewalk advocates to The activists call on a groundsman to secretly record people entering abor- quit his job and tell his employers: “You tion facilities. cut your own lawn as long as you’re “There was one instance where we killing children.” recorded a day of outreach at an abor- The campaigners confront the part- tion facility for training purposes — like ners of women seeking abortions at the many businesses do — but all identify- Tampa clinic. They tell a man whose ing client information was removed or partner is inside: “She trusts you right? blurred, and it was conducted with US activists stage a March for Life outside the Supreme You mean a lot to her. If you go in and proper notice and respecting the laws Court in Washington. Lauren Muzyka, of Sidewalk put your arm around her and say ‘we of that jurisdiction,” she said. Advocates for Life, above centre, plans to spread her can do this’ you can walk out today and In the “What we offer” section of its group’s US campaign methods — set out in training videos you can save your child’s life.” website, SAFL advises that a second seen by The Times — to the streets of Dublin, despite Simon At another point the SAFL members instalment in the role-play training Harris’s pledge to bring forward exclusion zone laws encourage a man to enter the room programme is “coming soon”. Those who oppose exclusion zones are hiding behind respectability

Analysis facing protesters. Some TDs been exposed offering for safe access zones because European country with a clinics will often adopt and senators who misinformation. people should have the right Sidewalk Advocates for Life feminist language and claim he revelations in campaigned against An undercover reporter to offer information to (SAFL) site. that they are the only ones The Times about the repealing the Eighth posing as a potential activist “conflicted women”. The claims offering a “choice”. planned activities of Amendment oppose the was told: “Your job is just to Carol Nolan and Mattie that there is “no need” for This is based on what is anti-abortion proposal. get [the woman] to the McGrath, both independent laws to ban “peaceful essentially a conspiracy activists come amid Exclusion zones could be pregnancy centre.” This is TDs, and Mr Mullen recently protests”. SAFL claims that theory, that governments Topposition to proposals to considered the new done by intercepting women invited a lobby group to its activists are not want to push women into legislate for exclusion zones battleground on abortion in car parks, enticing them Leinster House to argue protesters. It does not want terminating pregnancies. Ms (Ellen Coyne writes). rights in Ireland but the issue with bright pink coupons for against exclusion zones. They to express its opposition to Nolan claimed as much when The government has said also concerns the right to free pregnancy tests or with claimed that such laws abortion outside clinics. she accused Simon Harris, that it wants to pass a law information. goody bags containing withheld help from women Instead it wants to stop the health minister, in the that prevents demonstrations The strategy of the chocolate and lipstick. who needed it most. women from accessing legal Dáil last December of trying near hospitals or GP clinics “sidewalk counsellors”, as The so-called St Louis They argue that women abortion services. to “push abortion”. offering legal abortion exposed by The Times, hinges Method teaches activists that deserve the right to There is no suggestion that Those opposed to exclusion services. The move is on referring women to their “entire job” is to force information. The Iona Mr Mullen, Ms Nolan, Mr zones try to swaddle designed to limit the unregulated, anti-abortion cars to stop before they get Institute, a Catholic group, McGrath, the Iona Institute themselves in a cloak of possibility of women being clinics. Any woman talked inside safe access zones has said that if the exclusion and other politicians opposed respectability. If their confronted while using a out of going into a hospital or around clinics or hospitals. zone legislation is approved to exclusion zones support strategy, however, is to push legal service. It would also a clinic will be directed to an Rónán Mullen, the Ireland will be the only SAFL or the methods it uses. a woman towards one allow medical staff to enter anti-abortion agency. Many independent senator, has said country in Europe with such Anti-abortion activists who “choice” only, then that is their places of work without of these sites, however, have that he is against legislating a law. Ireland is also the only stage demonstrations outside not a choice at all. 8 1R M Monday February 18 2019 | the times NewsNews Anti-abortion activists ‘Thousands of women have thanked us for being there to help them’

Katie O’Neill locations in America, two bases in sent women only to agencies run by advised to use on rape victims, their ad- Africa and one in Australia, Fiji and the trained counsellors who gave accurate vice to pose as a pregnant woman in The American anti-abortion organisa- Pacific island of Vanuata. The group advice. The leaders were also asked if crisis to find doctors providing abortion tion has established its first group in said that it offered to walk women the group provided support to Irish services or the claim that they could get Ireland through a crisis pregnancy through their pregnancies and “as long activists, who may tell women from low around new exclusion zones. agency in Dublin. as they like after the baby is born”. socio-economic backgrounds that they Ms Muzyka said activists were re- Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) Lauren Muzyka, the SAFL executive could have financial help if they con- quired to sign a pledge of integrity to be is a not-for-profit group, set up more director, said that since the group had tinued their pregnancies. peaceful, law-abiding and truthful in all than four years ago, which describes been created more than 5,500 women SAFL was also asked if it had seen any conversations outside abortion clinics. itself as “a law-abiding sidewalk advo- had accepted their offer of help and evidence that “abortion reversal”, dis- The group accepts donations of up to cacy programme”. Members, once ap- “thanked us for being at the abortion missed as not real by the HSE, worked. $25,000 on its website. New members proved, are trained to stage demonstra- centre”. The group’s leaders declined to an- were asked for a $150 fee, which can be tions or “vigils” outside abortion clinics. The Times asked the organisation’s swer the questions. They also did not In a video by the group a pregnant reduced or waived. Further fees were The organisation has more than 150 leaders if they ensured that activists comment on the tactics activists were woman’s partner is being approached requested after several months. REBECCA COOK/REUTERS; ABOVE: SAFL TRAINING VIDEO Group offers legal advice on action near clinics

Katie O’Neill, Ellen Coyne Sidewalk Advocates for Life is offering Irish people free legal advice on how to approach women entering GP clinics and hospitals. The US anti-abortion group has already established a presence in Du- blin and is hoping to expand to all parts of the country. Carolyn O’Meara, who runs Gianna Care, an unregulated cri- sis pregnancy clinic, is listed by SAFL as the director of its Dublin branch. An activist told an undercover re- porter that the group was hoping to travel to Ireland to conduct training. “We would love to have the opportuni- ty to come and do some training for y’all. We’d love to come to be there to be a support for you and serve you as best as we can. We need more Ireland voca- tions,” Bethany Mistretta said. Irish activists are also being offered

Bethany Mistretta: “We’d love to do training in Ireland”

US anti-abortion protesters outside a clinic in Detroit. The Irish government has pledged to introduce exclusion zones to prevent activists from targeting women training materials, templates of flyers, free sonogram coupons as well as full- time staff support and monthly confer- ence calls. Fast-track laws to protect women Ms Mistretta also offered the report- er assistance in mapping out where she could stand if exclusion zones were implemented, prohibiting demonstra- tions within a certain radius of hospi- seeking terminations, TDs urge tals and clinics. The possibility of introducing legis- lation to create the zones is being exam- Katie O’Neill, Ellen Coyne be ready and we have to have the legis- ment must ensure that exclusion zones they’re going to see some other doctor, ined by Simon Harris, the health minis- lation,” Ms O’Reilly said. covered a wide radius so that anti- that’s gonna look very different to the ter, amid concern that protests have Laws to regulate crisis pregnancy agen- Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) abortion activists could not avoid them. other woman who’s like, tunnel vision.” already taken place at clinics providing cies and introduce exclusion zones trains activists to intervene as women “Exclusion zones are necessary. Ms O’Connell said that patients’ abortion services. should be expedited to protect women seek abortions at clinics and refer them There’s obviously a need to make sure right to access clinics without interfer- Ms Mistretta said: “If you want we from anti-abortion protesters who are to anti-abortion agencies. It has set up the legislation that we have is fit for ence was paramount. can pull up that address on Google being trained by US activists, politi- its first Irish branch in Dublin with purpose and that it’s very clear what the “Most people who are attending hos- Earth and take a look at it and kind of cians have said. Gianna Care, the unregulated anti- penalties are for any sort of intimida- pital, the reason is that they are sick and give you some ideas. Say ‘OK what’s TDs have renewed calls for legis- abortion agency. In 2017 Gianna Care tion or coercion of women,” she said. they require healthcare and they are in happening over here, what’s happening lation to protect women seeking termi- was exposed giving misleading advice “There has to be a zero-tolerance a vulnerable position, be it having a ter- over there?’ We can kind of strategise nations after an investigation by The to an undercover reporter. Since last approach to anything like this and mination or having a hip done, and we together on where the women are com- Times exposed the tactics of an Amer- year’s referendum it has begun plan- while people have a right to protest and have to be very, very careful that we are ing in from and what the good access ican anti-abortion organisation that ning clinics in Galway and Waterford. let their voices be heard, there are doing everything to protect our citi- points could be.” trains Irish activists in how to operate After investigations by The Times the places to do that without intimidation.” zens,” she said. SAFL also intends to provide pro- outside healthcare facilities. government sought to regulate crisis She said that exclusion zones would “Those organisations will try and bono legal advice to Irish people. Kate O’Connell, the Fine Gael TD, pregnancy agencies for the first time. A protect all patients, not just those seek- evolve to target our system. We have to “I’m pretty confident in saying we and Louise O’Reilly, Sinn Féin’s health new board to regulate crisis pregnancy ing abortions. respond and we have to be one step could provide some guidance in that re- spokeswoman, said that the report em- counsellors is being set up, but in prac- Bethany Mistretta, SAFL’s national ahead of them.” gard,” Ms Mistretta said. phasised the need for laws to safeguard tice the agencies are still free to operate. programme manager, told an under- Ms O’Reilly said that the govern- New members are asked to pay a $150 women accessing legal abortions. Both Simon Harris has also vowed to cover reporter posing as an activist to ment should prioritise the regulation of application fee for a starter package full are members of the Oireachtas health introduce exclusion zones to protect leaflet all cars entering a facility that crisis agency agencies. “It is only by of materials to use at demonstrations, committee. women trying to access abortion provided abortion and to intercept their failure to legislate that they have and training DVDs and workbooks. “Strong action needs to be taken services, and doctors, from protests. In women who appeared preoccupied and created a climate whereby now we are Approved activists are granted ac- given what The Times has uncovered. December the health minister said he couples who looked like they had been being looked at as a cheap target for cess to a large volume of advanced We are now clearly in a situation where would introduce a law banning protests arguing. these massively well-funded anti- training videos and documents includ- we are going to come under sustained outside medical facilities in early 2019. Ms Mistretta said: “So if you have abortion organisations,” she said. ing tips and templates such as parental attack from these people, so we have to Ms O’Connell said that the govern- people coming in who are all happy and Leading article, page 17 permission forms for under-18s. ireland edition

tuesday february 19 2019 thetimes.ie | no 72774 €2 (£1.80) IRELAND AND THE WORLD MeToo revolution How you can help ward off has progressed faster than men depression and feel better Times2 Hugo Rifkind Page 15 Bryan Dobson falls victim to fake news stories on Facebook

Aaron Rogan Senior Ireland Reporter Miriam O’Callaghan, Pat Kenny, Ryan linked to a story that did not include spokeswoman said: “We are working to spread the rumour that he was to re- Tubridy and Claire Byrne have also any information on the supposed resig- hard to enhance our efforts to detect tire. Facebook has been criticised by a Bryan Dobson has become the latest been subject to similar posts. nation but repeated unrelated quotes and keep this kind of activity off our number of prominent people who have Irish broadcaster to feature in false A story about Dobson, 59, who that Dobson made about being paid platform, including increasing our said they are taking legal action over its news stories being promoted on Face- presents Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio more than his Six One co-presenter at safety, security and review team to slow response to fake posts. book, after a post claiming he was to re- 1, said he was set to retire and used the the time, Sharon Ní Bheoláin. 30,000 people this year.” O’Callaghan has announced that she tire was circulated over the weekend. headline: “After 32 years, enough is A spokeswoman for RTÉ said that it Unlike other uses of Irish broadcast- is going to sue over promoted posts that A series of fake articles about Irish enough”. It was boosted on the social had contacted Facebook on Dobson’s ers in promoted posts, there was no sug- claimed she was leaving RTÉ to focus personalities have been promoted on network by someone paying Facebook behalf about the promoted post and it gestion that Dobson was endorsing a on a supposed anti-wrinkle face-cream the social network in recent months. to target it at people in Ireland. The post had since been removed. A Facebook product in the advert. The purpose was Continued on page 2, col 5 LORCAN DOHERTY/PRESS EYE More MPs will quit, UK Labour leader is warned

Francis Elliott Political Editor Matt Chorley, Oliver Wright Kate Devlin Jeremy Corbyn was warned by his deputy last night that more British MPs would resign unless he brought Labour back into the mainstream. Tom Watson issued the challenge after seven MPs quit the party yesterday. He told Mr Corbyn to reshuffle his top team and said that he and other Labour MPs would in any case develop a policy programme in the party’s “social democratic” tradition. Mr Watson’s move came after Luci- ana Berger and Chuka Umunna led the most significant party split in a genera- tion. They, with Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey, announced that they were resigning over Mr Corbyn’s handling of Stars on a bar Dylan Llewellyn, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Nicola Coughlan and Louisa Harland visited a mural of their hit TV show Derry Girls at the city’s Badgers Bar in the party and Brexit. They will sit as The Independent Group in the House of Commons. They said they hoped their action would encourage the creation of a cen- trist party and called for politicians, in- cluding in other parties, to join them. Harris vows to block US They saidLabour had been “hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left”, was facilitating Brexit and had become “institutionally antisemitic”. Mr Watson said: “I confess I feared this day would come. And I fear now that unless we change we may see more anti-abortion activists days like this.” He did not regard the MPs who had resigned as “traitors” but as “people who have drawn the wrong Minister promises exclusion zones to stop ‘chilling’ tactics conclusion to a serious question”. He added: “This is a moment for regret and Ellen Coyne, Katie O’Neill democracy. The health minister was re- porter to pose as a pregnant woman to abortion crisis pregnancy agency, has reflection, not for a mood of anger or a sponding to reports in yesterday’s identify doctors providing abortion produced leaflets featuring a letter tone of triumph. There are those who Women are being called “mum” and Times about Sidewalk Advocates for services. Bethany Mistretta, a pro- which addresses women as “mum” and are already celebrating the departure of told abortion could cause breast cancer Life (SAFL), an American group which gramme manager for SAFL, suggested appeals to them not to “hurt your child”. colleagues with whom they disagree.” by activists targeting them outside is seeking to intercept women as they there would be ways to get around any “Counsellors” at the Women’s Centre The said yesterday that women’s clinics, The Times can reveal. access abortion services in Ireland. exclusion zones and that her group was on Berkeley Street, Dublin, have previ- Derek Hatton, the former deputy Anti-abortion campaigners are also An investigation showed SAFL had hoping to target “every abortion facility ously been exposed for claiming that leader of Liverpool council, had been giving out leaflets which appear to pro- trained Irish activists at Gianna Care, or every doctor’s office that provides abortion causes breast cancer and can readmitted more than three decades mote an abortion “reversal” technique, the anti-abortion crisis pregnancy abortions” in Ireland. turn women into child abusers. There is after his expulsion for being part of the which has been criticised by the HSE. agency. SAFL advises volunteers to tell Today The Times can reveal that no suggestion that the centre is con- Militant tendency. Tactics used by a separate anti-abort- rape victims that an abortion would not another anti-abortion group is regular- nected to SAFL or Gianna Care. Dave Prentis, general secretary of ion group have been described by “unrape” them, and that terminating a ly targeting women outside a Dublin The centre appears to claim that Unison, Britain’s second biggest union, Simon Harris as “chilling”, “manipula- pregnancy could be “rape-like” in na- clinic which provides early abortion women can reverse a termination, even said that the departure of the seven tive” and “deeply disrespectful” of Irish ture. The group told an undercover re- services. The Women’s Centre, an anti- Continued on page 6, col 4 Continued on page 20, col 1 6 1R M Tuesday February 19 2019 | the times NewsNews Anti-abortion activists US anti-abortion activists don’t know Ireland, says Boylan

Katie O’Neill Ireland Reporter they were from the extreme right wing couple with a bump in order to harass Ellen Coyne Senior Ireland Reporter of the United States. They are anti- them?,” TMRI said. “Being harassed in democratic,” he said. a car park is neither peaceful nor re- An “obnoxious” American anti-abort- Dr Boylan said it would be difficult spectful.” ion organisation targeting women ac- for activists to identify which women Catherine Noone, the Fine Gael sen- cessing legal abortion services does not entering hospitals and GP clinics were ator who chaired the committee on the understand Ireland, a leading obstetri- pregnant and seeking an abortion. Eighth Amendment, said that the reve- cian has said. “How are they going to identify lations from The Times investigation There were widespread calls across women who are seeking a termination? had renewed her focus on passing ex- the political divide yesterday for laws to How can they distinguish them from clusion zone legislation. protect women who are seeking termi- somebody going in for a flu vaccine? Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris, Bren- nations. It followed an investigation by “Because abortion is integrated into dan Howlin, the Labour party leader, The Times into how Sidewalk Advo- our healthcare system, they are going , a Labour senator and cates for Life (SAFL) is training volun- to be the ones who are easy to identify Louise O’Reilly, a Sinn Féin TD, were teers to expand its anti-abortion coun- rather than the women seeking termi- among the chorus of politicians calling selling techniques to Ireland. nations,” Dr Boylan said. for the introduction of safe access zone The group trains members to ap- He continued: “How are they going laws yesterday. Ms Bacik said that the proach every person entering a medical to know that a woman with a foetal ab- investigation by The Times had made facility that provides abortions. It told normality, if they find out that she has the issue of exclusion zones “even more an undercover reporter to pretend to be one, how are they are going to know pertinent”. pregnant to identify which doctors that she’s not going to continue with it? Ms Noone said that the government would carry out abortions so it could It’s really obnoxious.” did not include exclusion zones in the ascertain which locations to target. The National Women’s Council of bill legalising abortion because it did , who helped to intro- Ireland issued an “urgent call” for ex- not want to slow down its introduction. duce legal abortions, said SAFL clusion zones which would ban demon- Diarmuid Martin, the archbishop of lacked an understanding of Irish strations outside GP clinics and hos- Dublin, said that a balance needed to be healthcare. “This is not America. pitals in order to prevent women struck between a person’s right to priva- Our service is integrated into the being “confronted or intimidated”. cy and a universal right to protest and Irish healthcare system so the Termination for Medical Rea- freedom of expression. idea of stopping people going sons Ireland (TMRI), which repre- “I would hope, however, that in our into a car park of a clinic is almost sents parents affected by fatal crisis pregnancy counselling that laughable. They obviously and severe foetal anoma- people in proper counselling situations don’t know Ireland,” Dr lies, said it was con- hear all sides of the story and the possi- Boylan said. cerned that its mem- bility of them keeping children, their The former master bers would be target- child, if they wish,” he said. of the National ed in hospital car Archbishop Martin said the Irish Maternity Hospital parks. church should do more to aid women said the organisa- SAFL told an who want to carry on with their preg- tion’s tactics were undercover re- nancy in challenging circumstances, similar to those porter to look out but he said that would not extend to ap- observed during for couples who proaching them in hospital car parks. the referendum looked like they The Irish Council for Civil Liberties campaign. had been fighting. said exclusion zone laws were required “As soon as you “Does that mean to stop “organised harassment”. scrolled down to them [on looking for a crying “Tactics involving lies, emotional ], you came across blackmail and the targeting of women references to Trump and Diarmuid Martin called based on their ‘distress’ — this is not the National Rifle Asso- for women to hear “all peaceful protest, it’s arch-manipula- ciation. We know that sides of the story” tion,” it said. An escort outside the EMW Women’s Surgical Centre in Louisville, Kentucky, Rural areas ‘struggling to get access’ Do nothing to hurt your child, campaigners plead Ellen Coyne “sparse”. “Some counties have no GPs organisations as not medically neces- signed up to the service and other sary. The letter said the waiting period Thirty-five pro-choice groups have counties have limited provision as discriminated against “those who are Continued from page 1 breast cancer and an “inability to be- claimed that women in rural areas and many GPs only provide care to their forced to travel long distances to access after they have taken the first of two come pregnant”. Northern Ireland are struggling to ac- current patients. People living in rural abortion healthcare”. It added that abortion pills. The HSE said that there In response to yesterday’s investi- cess abortion services. areas where public transport is limited women from Northern Ireland had to was “no such thing” as abortion rever- gation by The Times, Leo Varadkar said The groups, all of which campaigned are being forced to travel long distances pay to access abortion services in the sal and that any woman who attempted that Irish people had voted “over- for the repeal of the Eighth Amend- to access care,” it said. Republic, which could cost €450. such a process could have a miscar- whelmingly” to provide safe and legal ment, have written to Simon Harris ex- “Furthermore, it has become clear Abortion remains illegal in Northern riage. The HSE also said that a “healthy abortion services here. He said: “Abor- pressing concern about parts of the that those requiring hospital care are Ireland in almost all circumstances. A outcome” of the pregnancy could not tion is deeply private and personal and country where doctors are not provid- not being seen in their nearest hospital spokeswoman for Mr Harris said that be guaranteed in such circumstances. no woman chooses to end her pregnan- ing terminations. but are instead being referred to larger, termination services were still evolv- The letter says: “Mum, Are you cy lightly. No one should be coerced, in- The government said yesterday that city-based maternity units that are far- ing. “There is still work to be done to im- thinking about having an abortion? We timidated or harassed when accessing there are now 274 GPs across Ireland ther away. This is not what we marched prove services and the department of know you are probably upset and con- or providing these services.” who are willing to provide legal abor- for and it is not what we voted for. health is continuing to work intensively fused. Even if you have already had Mr Harris said that he would bring tion services, up from the 164 GPs who People deserve timely abortion care with the HSE to address issues as they medication, it is not too late to save the forward draft plans for exclusion zones had said they would offer termination that reflects evidence-based clinical arise and to improve this service,” she life of your baby. Please don’t do any- outside hospitals or clinics providing services in December. practice, where they live.” said. thing now that will hurt your child abortion services that he hoped would Since January 1, abortion has been a The groups also said they were con- “The legislation allows for a review because you will later regret it.” become law by the end of the year. He legal public health service up to 12 cerned that demonstrations by anti- clause within three years. With regards The leaflet gives contact details for said that plans by US anti-abortion ac- weeks. Up to nine weeks’ gestation, abortion activists outside hospitals or to women in Northern Ireland, the de- the Women’s Centre and lists possible tivists to expand to Ireland were chill- women are able to access abortion ser- GP clinics were discouraging doctors partment is examining extending eligi- complications after an abortion, in- ing. “It’s manipulative and it’s deeply vices through medical terminations from signing up. bility to women in Northern Ireland cluding: “Guilt, fear, anxiety; depres- disrespectful of our democratic pro- provided by their GP. Doctors can Ireland’s abortion law includes a and is consulting with the attorney- sion or thoughts of suicide; re-experi- cess,” he said. “The idea that anybody, choose whether or not they want to mandatory three-day waiting period general’s office in this regard. The min- encing the abortion; damage to mater- but particularly outside groups, would provide terminations. between a woman being certified for an ister wants to find a mechanism to do nal instinct and to bonding process be trying to undermine our democratic The open letter, sent to the health abortion and her actually accessing the this. It is important to state the fee is set with any other children you have; alco- decision and effectively, in my view, minister yesterday, said that abortion medical procedure. The wait has been by individual GPs and providers, if out- hol and drug abuse; eating disorders.” It harass and intimidate Irish women is services in rural areas were still criticised by doctors and human rights side the legislation.” also claims that abortion can cause quite despicable”. the times | Tuesday February 19 2019 1R M 7 NewsNews REUTERS; MAXWELLS; CIARA WILKINSON; SAFL WEBSITE Bylaw proposal to halt protests outside hospital

Ellen Coyne culating on social media. If adopted, the motion would make Louth the first part A Fianna Fáil councillor is trying to use of Ireland to bring in exclusion zones Louth’s bylaws to set out exclusion for anti-abortion protesters. Ms Coffey zones after a number of anti-abortion said she hoped that other councils demonstrations outside a hospital. across Ireland might be able to do the Louth county council yesterday same. backed a motion by Emma Coffey, a Ms Coffey said she had been contact- Fianna Fáil councillor, to ban anti- ed by doctors and women who said they abortion protests or demonstrations felt it was “wrong” that members of the within 500m of any facility providing public, including those hoping to access abortion services. legal abortion services, would have to The chief executive of the council pass protests or demonstrations on will now seek legal advice on whether their way into hospitals. “People gener- or not the local authority has the power ally just going about their business, into to set out its own exclusion zone. a hospital or a GP clinic, find it upset- Ms Coffey’s motion is trying to use a ting. The country spoke, democracy bylaw to regulate the public roads and took place,” Ms Coffey said. footpaths outside hospitals or GP clin- She said she thought it was “horren- ics. Under her proposal, anti-abortion dous” that women trying to access activists would be banned from observ- abortion services would have to make ing women or doctors, or “con- their way past anti-abortion tinuously observing” the activists. Yesterday, The hospital or GP clinic it- Times published an self. Activists would al- undercover investi- so be banned from gation into a US anti- threatening doctors, abortion group and “besetting, har- which has set up a assing, intimidating, presence in Ireland. interfering with, Sidewalk Advocates threatening, hinder- for Life aims to inter- ing, obstructing or cept women who are impeding” anyone trying to access legal trying to access the abortion services and healthcare facility. Re- refer them to crisis preg- cording information about nancy agencies. people using the hospital or Simon Harris, the health clinic would be prohibited. Activists minister, said he planned to legislate for would also not be allowed to hand out exclusion zones. Mr Harris said that he leaflets or put up posters, and public had planned to include the law in legis- meetings and demonstrations outside lation which legalised access to abor- the hospital would also be banned. tion, but he was concerned it would Ms Coffey said she was prompted to slow the bill down. He said that the gov- bring forward the motion after a num- ernment was planning to publish a draft ber of anti-abortion demonstrations law on the issue before the summer, and were held outside Our Lady of Lourdes was hoping to have the legislation in hospital in Drogheda, above. The same place by the end of the year. hospital was the subject of a suspected Ms Coffey said she was concerned patient confidentiality breach after that national legislation might take too claims that anti-abortion activists long, and was hoping that local author- knew that an abortion was scheduled to ities might find a way to bring the exclu- makes sure women can reach the clinic. A US group has been training Irish activists in targeting abortion providers be performed at the hospital started cir- sion zones in sooner. US group takes Irish link off website Message sprayed on doors of clinic during the night Ellen Coyne, Katie O’Neill Defence and other groups, we have not had contact with them.” An American anti-abortion group has An undercover reporter for The Katie O’Neill statute books. We need to ensure that removed all references to its Irish loca- Times was told that SAFL had been af- women can access this service safely tion from its website after an investi- filiated with Gianna Care, which was A lone vandal is believed to be responsi- and without the threat of intimidation.” gation by The Times. set up by a Youth Defence activist, “for ble for anti-abortion graffiti which was Mr Flaherty added: “I’ve had calls from Sidewalk Advocates for Life had list- a couple of years now”. scrawled across the exterior of a medi- ‘pro-life’ people today who said they do ed Gianna Care, the unregulated Du- Asked about her connections to Gi- cal clinic in Longford on Sunday night. not condone this behaviour.” blin anti-abortion agency, as one of its anna Care, Ms Muzyka said: “There is Longford Medical Centre in Leader Mr Flaherty said that Syed Ali, the international locations. Sidewalk Advocates for Life had listed an organisation that wanted to learn Park was defaced with anti-abortion doctor based at the clinic, was a well-re- Gianna Care was SAFL’s first pres- an anti-abortion agency in Dublin from our programme, but they have not messages. “We r being governed by garded practitioner. “Dr Ali is a ence in Europe. But the organisation implemented our programme, and criminals abortion women die young successful and well-respected doctor has now claimed that Gianna Care will Ms Mistretta was asked about the pro- they’ve also said that they may not get media hide d truth,” was written across and his service is engrained in the com- not be running its programme, and it posed size of her organisation in Ire- around to implementing our pro- the doors in white spray paint. munity,” he said. has no plans to expand to Ireland. land. She replied: “To have every abor- gramme because they are focused cur- Joe Flaherty, a local Fianna Fáil Peggy Nolan, a local Fine Gael coun- This newspaper was offered training tion facility or every doctor’s office that rently on the service provided through councillor, said CCTV footage showed cillor, criticsed the vandalism. “The law by SAFL as part of its plans to expand its provides abortions, have every one of their pregnancy care centre.” a lone culprit defacing the building. The of the land is the law of the land. If you presence in Ireland. An undercover re- those locations covered with peaceful Ms Muzyka was then challenged on gardaí are investigating. have a problem with that, try and porter was told by Bethany Mistretta, a sidewalk advocates. Any hour of busi- the claim she had made beforehand “This was carried out by one person change the law. Don’t abuse the people programme manager for SAFL, “we do ness that they’re open.” that she had not had any contact with in the cover of darkness. It’s hard to that are carrying out the law,” she said. have another Sidewalks Advocates for Lauren Muzyka, SAFL’s executive di- anti-abortion groups in Ireland. “That’s identify who the person might be. It’s a Longford Medical Centre said it was Life group in the Dublin area. They are rector, yesterday tried to claim that her a pregnancy care centre . . . we have not completely mindless action that has not commenting on the matter. part of a pregnancy centre as well.” organisation had “no plans” to put ac- had contact with pro-life activists in been criticised by both sides of the HSE figures show 274 GPs have Ms Mistretta read out the address for tivists in front of facilities in Ireland. Ireland.” abortion debate here in Longford. It signed the contract to provide termina- Carolyn O’Meara, the former Youth She told RTE Radio 1’s drivetime pro- She said that SAFL had no plans to does nothing to further this person’s tion of pregnancy services. The list of Defence activist who founded Gianna gramme that her organisation had no come to Ireland. However, an under- cause” he said. GPs who sign up is not published but a Care. Until yesterday, Gianna Care was contact with anti-abortion groups in cover reporter was told a senior SAFL “We had a referendum which was in- number of them have consented to listed on SAFL’s website as its Dublin Ireland. “We have not spoken to . . . I staff member had said “we need more credibly divisive but the people have having their details shared with women location. It was taken down yesterday. mean we’ve heard of groups like Youth Ireland vocations! I wanna go”. spoken and the legislation is on the seeking abortion information. the times | Wednesday February 20 2019 1R M 7 News Dublin clinic ZACH GIBSON/GETTY was identified as location to target women

Katie O’Neill, Ellen Coyne A Dublin crisis pregnancy service told an American anti-abortion organisa- tion of a potential location where women seeking abortions could be in- tercepted. On Monday, The Times revealed the plans of Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL) to train Irish activists to divert women considering terminations away from GP surgeries and maternity hospitals to anti-abortion pregnancy agencies. Gianna Care, an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy agency, was approved by SAFL as its first European location and until Monday was listed as the group’s Irish branch on their website. Bethany Mistretta, SAFL’s pro- gramme manager, told an undercover reporter posing as a prospective advo- cate to consider demonstrating outside Reproductive Choices, a sexual health clinic on Berkeley Street in Dublin. Ms Mistretta claimed that campaigners from Gianna Care had suggested Re- Anti-abortion activists in Washington. The US group Sidewalk Activists for Life picked out Reproductive Choices, a Dublin clinic which has not said it offers abortions production Choices as a potential loca- tion to confront women. provided by GPs and maternity hospi- developed by any other organisation, pregnancy centre as well,” she said. ists outside facilities in Ireland. Ms Ms Mistretta said that Reproductive tals, the Irish Family Planning Associa- including the model developed by Side- “They have been affiliated with us for a Muzyka told RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime Choices was a standalone clinic that tion and the Well Woman Centre have walk Advocates for Life, contrary to couple years now.” programme that her organisation had provides sexual health care and might signed up to provide the services in the what was claimed by The Times, Ire- Ms Mistretta then read out the ad- no contact with anti-abortion groups in carry out abortions. Reproductive greater Dublin area. land,” it said. dress of Carolyn O’Meara, the former Ireland. Choices has not publicly said that it is Gianna Care did not respond to re- Ms Mistretta claimed that SAFL had Youth Defence activist who founded “We have not spoken to — I mean providing terminations. quests for comment yesterday. In a had a relationship with Gianna Care for Gianna Care. we’ve heard of groups like Youth De- The clinic could not be reached for statement published online, it tried to a number of years. “We do have another On Monday, Lauren Muzyka, SAFL’s fence and other groups, we have not comment yesterday. distance itself from SAFL’s tactics. “We Sidewalks Advocates for Life group in executive director, claimed that her or- had contact with them,” she said. While most abortion services are do not follow any other model of care the Dublin area. They are part of a ganisation had “no plans” to put activ- Leading article, page 17 Call for review of abortion law is rejected

Ellen Coyne Senior Ireland Reporter is at risk, or in cases of fatal foetal abnor- live an hour or so,” Ms Coppinger told rangements, etc. Mary said to me: ‘I weeks.” He added that he would not malities. A fatal abnormality is one that the Dáil. would lose my head if I had to continue comment on the individual cases raised Leo Varadkar has defended the ban on doctors believe means the foetus is not “However, the doctor then said, for this pregnancy, but Ireland will do by Ms Coppinger. abortions for non-fatal abnormalities, likely to live for 28 days after birth. whatever reason, that nothing could be nothing for me.’” “I know that the diagnosis of a fatal which he said the government had de- Ms Coppinger said the “central mes- done, as she was over 12 weeks. Mary Ms Coppinger called on the govern- foetal abnormality must be a very diffi- cided on before last year’s referendum sage” from last year’s referendum result was handed the names of three hospi- ment to review the law and examine cult one for anybody, the mum or the on the Eighth Amendment. was that women should be able to make tals in England. She also said that a staff making terminations legal for non-fa- dad, for the family, when, in a much- The was speaking after decisions “freely, without barrier or ob- member had treated her like a leper tal abnormalities. wanted pregnancy, [they] find out that Ruth Coppinger, the Solidarity TD, struction”. She said that three women after this point.” In response, Mr Varadkar said that something has gone wrong,” he said. called for a review of the abortion law to had contacted her office to tell her they Ms Coppinger said that the woman the Oireachtas had agreed to review “We decided that a woman was free to consider legalising terminations in cases had to travel abroad to access termina- contacted the HSE and was directed to Ireland’s abortion legislation in three choose to end her pregnancy for any of foetal abnormalities that are not fatal. tions for medical reasons. University Hospital Galway for a scan. years. “[The Oireachtas] decided that reason, or none, up to 12 weeks but after Ms Coppinger also told the Dáil she “In the latest case, let us call this She said that when Mary arrived, she disability would not be grounds for the that it would have to be because of a risk had spoken to a woman who had to trav- woman Mary, she had a scan in Porti- was told that nobody would see her. termination of a pregnancy, but fatal to her health, a risk to her life or a dia- el for a termination despite being told by uncula Hospital and the obstetrician “At that stage, Mary and her husband abnormalities would be,” he said. “A gnosis of fatal foetal abnormality. We an Irish doctor that her baby might only told her that there was a nuchal translu- had had enough. They walked out and, severe abnormality is very often a dis- decided that as a House. live “for an hour or so” if it survived birth. cency with fluid around the neck of 8 to within hours, had made an appoint- ability. That is a decision that we made “If [Ms Coppinger] wants to reopen Abortion is now legal in Ireland up to 12 9 mm and possible Edwards’ syndrome. ment to go to England. Of course, that as a house — that we would make that the debate about whether disability weeks’ gestation, and beyond that only She was told there was only a 15 per cent would be at great expense, having to distinction and that disability would should be grounds for termination, that in cases where the woman’s life or health chance of delivery and the baby might have children looked after, work ar- not be grounds for terminations after 12 is her choice.” Farrell jumps back on board with BBC Acupuncture menopause

Eilis Staunton he said. “I am a huge admirer of hind Top of the Lake. Filming will his work and can’t wait to see begin in autumn. claim really needles expert Colin Farrell is to return to the BBC for him bring Drax vividly to life.” Farrell first appeared on Irish tel- the first time since Ballykissangel in a Deadline.com, which broke evision screens as the Dublin bad Kat Lay less. Professor Ernst said: “The trial has, four-part maritime thriller. the news of Farrell’s starring boy Danny Byrne in Ballykissangel as the authors themselves admit, no ad- The North Water, adapted for the role, said that the BBC was in in the 1990s before finding global Claims that acupuncture could help equate control group. The observed small screen from a critically acclaimed talks with several of A-listers fame with roles in Minority Report menopausal women have been punc- outcomes are in keeping with the novel by Ian McGuire, is about a 19th- for the role of Patrick Sumner, and Phone Booth. Recent films in- tured by a leader in the field. powerful placebo effect acupuncture century whaling ship that sets sail for a disgraced ex-army surgeon clude The Lobster, for which he was Edzard Ernst, emeritus professor of undeniably has. The authors neverthe- the Arctic with a killer aboard. Farrell who signs up as the ship’s doctor. nominated for a Golden complementary medicine at the Uni- less conclude that acupuncture will play Henry Drax, a sinister har- The North Water was long- Globe. He will soon versity of Exeter, said that Danish produced a ‘fast and clinically relevant pooner. listed for the Man Booker be seen in cinemas researchers’ claims in a BMJ spin-off reduction’ of symptoms. Such mislead- The series is being adapted and Prize in 2016. The TV in Tim Burton’s journal that acupuncture was a realistic ing statements amount to scientific directed by Andrew Haigh, the multi- series is produced by live-action ver- treatment for menopausal women misconduct.” award-winning director of the films See-Saw Films, the sion of Dumbo, “amounts to scientific misconduct”. However, the report’s authors said Lean on Pete, Looking and Weekend. production team be- based on the The study of 70 menopausal women that giving the control group sham “Casting the right leads is the most Disney classic, found that those who received a course acupuncture rather than no treatment important part of any project and I’m Colin Farrell will star which is out next of acupuncture reported fewer hot would have amounted to a trial of two thrilled to have Colin Farrell on board,” in The North Water month. flushes and mood swings and sweated types of acupuncture.