Amnesty’s founders would be saddened by abortion campaigning

Dear Editor, I am appalled at Amnesty International’s reversal of basic human rights in many areas. Originally founded to protect the vulnerable and defenceless, it now promotes abortion in Ireland on both sides of the border. One of its targets is the removal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, democratically passed in 1983 after 30 months of intensive debate, so that the majority of the population fully understood what was at stake.

The unborn child would certainly qualify as one of the most vulnerable of human beings, particularly those thought to be disabled in any way.

Sean McBride, one of the founding fathers of Amnesty International, chaired that organisation from 1961-1975 and was a towering figure in the field of human rights in his time. He also publicly backed the Eighth Amendment which Colm O’Gorman and others now want to remove from the Constitution – ironically fighting from their HQ in Sean McBride House!

Sean McBride was a giant in his field and would, I am sure, be deeply saddened and disillusioned to see what Amnesty has become. His father was executed by the British after the 1916 Rising. The 1916 leaders were idealistic, gifted men who unselfishly made the supreme sacrifice to liberate their country for the benefit of future generations.

Yours etc.,

John O’Reilly,

Secretary,

Second Look Project,

78 Merrion Square South,

Dublin 2.