Sinn
Féin has become “an all-Ireland pro-abortion party” following its votes
in favour of abortion and against free votes on the issue, a leading
pro-life campaigner has said. Reacting to the decisions reached at the party’s Ard Fheis in Castlebar, Co. Mayo last weekend, Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life said it was now “vitally important that Catholics know that if they vote for Sinn Féin they are helping to bring abortion to Northern Ireland.”
During its annual gathering, Sinn Féin supported a motion calling on the Government to enact legislation to give effect to the 1992 judgement of the Supreme Court in the X case while also passing a motion preventing party members from voting according to conscience on the issue.
Ms Smyth said that, as a result of its votes, the party “can no longer claim to cherish all of the children of Ireland equally” and stated it has “committed political suicide” in pursuing abortion.
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC), meanwhile, has accused Sinn Fein of indulging in “smear tactics” to deflect from its support for abortion.
In a statement reacting to the party motions, PLC pointed to an interview given during the Ard Fheis by Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in which he claimed that Sinn Féin is an “anti-abortion party” while disagreeing with members of the pro-life movement who opposed abortion legislation and put the life of the baby ahead of the mother in life threatening situations.
Dr Ruth Cullen of the PLC said Mr McGuinness’ remarks were a “calculated smear to deflect from the pro-abortion stance adopted by Sinn Féin”.
“The motions passed at the Sinn Féin ard fheis are pro-abortion, not pro-life. There was absolutely no effort made by the leadership of the party to distinguish between necessary medical treatments in pregnancy and induced abortion.”
And, Dr Cullen added: “I can assure the Sinn Féin leadership of one thing. The Pro Life Campaign will not let it trick voters into believing it is a pro-life party at the next general election.”