Pro Life Campaign

After the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland was ratified in September 1983, a number of those involved in that campaign, including some lawyers, decided to initiate legal proceedings through SPUC (Ireland). The targets were two pregnancy advisory agencies in Dublin. The cases started in 1985, won at the Irish Supreme Court (1988) and the EU Court of Justice (1992). That same year, the X case arose, and abortion in potentially wide circumstances was endorsed by the Irish Supreme Court.

The group that had planned the SPUC (Ireland) cases at once advised the setting up of the Pro Life Campaign (PLC). Within a week of the court judgement, it had an office in North Great Georges Street and held its first press conference on 10 March. The Chairman was Des Hanafin.who had played a vital role in the 1983 campaign. Its current office is located in Baggot Street, Dublin. Its primary spokesperson is Regius Professor of Laws at Trinity College Dublin, William Binchy.

Since then the PLC has fought three referendums on the pro-life issue, two in 1992 and one in 2002. Its modus operandi is lobbying politicians at all levels, and releasing public information packets. It achieves its aims through online and offline projects and activities. It also has a network of supporters and volunteers around Ireland who assist in promoting its goals.

In 2013, The Pro Life Campaign legal advisor Caroline Simons criticized the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 and claimed that it will lead to an “appalling scenario” where there will be partial-birth abortions. She also criticized the Health Minister James Reilly for having ignored the evidence given by medical professionals to the Oireachtas Health Committee, describing him as a “very foolish man”. She said there was nothing in the bill which prevents the termination of the life of the unborn and said that the lack of term limits could lead to situations where half of babies born at 25 weeks will not survive and the other will have cerebral palsy. ^[1]

Every year, the group organized a National Vigil in Dublin. In June 2013, thousands of people turned out for a pro-life rally in Dublin city centre. A garda source said that it was believed the number of people attending the event may have reached 30,000, though no official figure has been released. Gardaí closed off part of Merrion Square to allow the vigil to take place. Among those who attended was Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte. There were no incidents at the vigil, and no arrests.^[2] The crowd heard from Adele Best of the organization Women Hurt who described the pain and suffering that many women face as a result of abortion, but also the hope and healing that comes from helping others to choose a better path. Other speakers to address the event were Jennifer Kehoe, Maria Steen and Íde Nic Mathúna. The event organizers said they were especially pleased with the turnout because the National Vigil for Life was organized by the Pro Life Campaign alone.^[3]

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