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GRAPHIC IMAGERY RELATING to pregnancy and abortion has been displayed outside a maternity hospital in Dublin again today despite requests that a group not show the posters.
On Tuesday, the Irish Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (ICBR) displayed graphic imagery showing foetuses outside the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street, the Rotunda Hospital and the Coombe Hospital.
The imagery was placed very close to the entrances of both hospitals, which meant that passers-by and those on their way into the hospital would have full sight of their content.
The group – which is opposed to abortion – had a number of individuals stationed at the hospitals holding up the large signs.
Today, the Rotunda Hospital issued a statement on social media outlining that “despite previous pleas to refrain from protesting” outside the hospital entrance, the group was again displaying graphic imagery in the building’s vicinity.
Gardaí attended the scene this afternoon, however, it is understood that no arrests were made.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Rotunda Hospital said: “In the interest and wellbeing of our patients and staff, we recently engaged with campaigners and groups representing both sides of the current referendum to remove graphic and distasteful postering from the vicinity of the hospital.
“This protest has caused a lot of upset and distress for patients, many of whom attend the hospital for a number of different reasons and not just for the happy occasion of giving birth to a new baby.”
Obstetrician Mary Higgins – who has advocated a yes vote in the referendum – tweeted earlier in the week that women who may have experienced miscarriage from a previous pregnancy would have to walk right by the signs on the way into the hospital.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie this evening, a spokesperson for the ICBR said: “Let’s move beyond the misogynistic idea that people are too inherently weak or emotionally fragile to see prenatal imagery.
Let’s trust and respect women enough to show them the truth.
“Images of preborn children are no more graphic than images of born children. The difference is that almost no one questions the humanity of born children but people are uncertain about the humanity of pre-born children. Perhaps people find these signs so upsetting because they directly show the humanity of the unborn when every effort is made to keep their humanity hidden from view.”
Criticism
A spokesperson for one of the major retain the Eighth groups has been critical of the tactics of the ICBR in displaying such graphic imagery outside schools and hospitals.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie on Tuesday, Save the 8th spokesperson John McGuirk said: “These people are not Irish. They are not connected to our campaign, or to any other mainstream No campaign.
We have asked them to stop doing it. We are asking them go home. We hope they do so.
A Together for Yes spokesperson was also critical of the tactics.
They told TheJournal.ie: “[We] do not think this is an appropriate use of posters in this campaign.
These are deeply personal and private matters for women and their families, and such tactics only serve to cause further distress to people who might be receiving difficult news about their pregnancies.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie earlier this week, Jean-Simonis Engela, from the ICBR, said that criticism of his group’s actions was “disingenuous virtue signalling” and that the public “has a right to see” what an aborted foetus looks like.
Engela rejected criticism of holding the posters outside maternity hospitals specifically, and said that people often thank them for being there. He also said that the group would continue with these activities in the run-up to the referendum on 25 May.
With reporting by Sean Murray.
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Enda and his friends must be having their arms twisted by developers, you’d wonder why they’d contest the court ruling otherwise. Looks like the brown envelopes would have to be to returned.
Probably want to avoid wasting taxpayer’s money demolishing buildings that didn’t exist in 1916 to the state they were in in 1916 … i.e non-existent.
This baffles me. The entire lot of them attempted to use the 1916 commemoration ceremonies in order to squeeze every ounce of personal and political gain they could from them, yet have no scruples turning around and appealing a decision like this. It’s barfaced hypocrisy, I know we should be used to it by now but it never fails to disgust me. I’d have more respect for them if they admitted how much of a backhander they’re getting for this, not much, but more.
Some of the buildings may be modern, but the preservation of the street scape is about allowing the area to still be read in the way it would have sat in 1916. The wider battlefield site is very important to the story of 1916, and erasing the lane ways erases that history.
The woman’s a parasite. The past of this country means nothing to that woman.
Why would it to a member of the orange order who’s members historically have done their best to erode Irish history
Is that renowned ‘Republican’ party of FF going to shore up this farce of a government in the face of this wanton attempt to destroy this countries true Republican heritage????
They don’t mind wasting taxpayers money appealing a decision that suits their friends. Fcuk off Enda and Heather
Eh, didn’t FG specifically say at the time that they WOULD NOT appeal the high court decision?
Are you surprised with anything that shower of chancers would do
It’s only part of our history and you can’t sell that
What an incompetent woman. Imagine a minister for arts and heritage challenging this? I wonder would she be as quick and stern to challenge the courts if it was an orange parade or bonfire in question?
Hey citizens wakey ! wakey ! It may be of huge cultural, social and historic significance but in modern day Ireland where everything has a price but no value, Moore Street and environs is just another bit of real estate whose selling price will bear no relationship whatsoever to the immense profits that await private developers following a knockdown sale by FG to their friends who in turn will do more damage than the Brits in 1916 and then sell the “glass cages” to those with more money than sense . Yes, I do remember Dublin in the rare ould times !
Groups, expert commissions, councils, enquires, blah blah blah.
So many ways to give jobs to the faithful who lost their seats.
Developers rule,history dose not matter to Enda,heather, n co..disgusting behaviour
The true nature of the Fine Gael/Blueshirt Party is clear from their behaviour in commemorating the occupation forces in the same breath as they commemorated the patriots of 1916. We are a sovereign nation, led by a crew that would gladly put the country back under the English yoke. In order to destroy any genuine republican feelings within the general populace they are waging a slow, long war of attrition on our culture, traditions, heritage and history. They do not see themselves as ‘Western Brits’ but as potential subjects of the Queen. Former Taoiseach, John Bruton, has even warped our history in his own mind to such an extent that he believes that the benevolent, democratic English Occupation Authorities would have ‘granted’ us Home Rule, if we had the patience to wait patiently, cap-in-hand, for it. His behaviour during the visit of the Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Parachute Regiment, (of Bloody Sunday infamy) left us in no doubt where his political fantasies and hopes lie. Shameless poltroons the lot of them!
Time to join the cause. If there is a protest movement count me in.
Humphreys is on a personal crusade, mad to get the bulldozers in and plough over Moore St.
Poor Heather…not sharp enough to know shes just a patsy for the big boys with the big money….this is what she will be remembered for….this,her ineptitude and her gross remuneration.
Disgusting
The only heritage FG are interested in is money.
Hold on, so the government are trying to have a national heritage site declared not that? No doubt so they can knock it and sell it to some developer who will build substandard apartments. I hope someone is taking notes for when it’s time to vote. This is madness!!
Like New Sinn Fein, some of these buildings didn’t even exist in 1916.
The High court says different.
Alpha. There is no new or old Sinn Fein.there is just Sinn Fein.
“Like New Sinn Fein, some of these buildings didn’t even exist in 1916.”
New (adjective)
‘of recent origin, production, purchase, etc.; having but lately come or been brought into being:
a new book.’
Yes, I’d imagine ‘new’ lots of stuff didn’t exist 100 years ago.
Good lad.
New Sinn Fein originates in the early 1970s when Gerry Adams established his splinter group.
Nothing to do with the original Sinn Fein who didn’t take part in The Rising.
Hardly news is it?
Alpha. Could you please tell me which political party on this island is called new Sinn Fein.now that would be news?
Sinn Fein Nua
ray.farrelly Not for trolling purposes there isn’t.
Alpha. So are you saying there is a political party called Sinn Fein Nua. Some proof would be appreciated.
ray.farrely alpha isn’t interested, he’s trying to refocus the issue away from FG being shown up for what they are.
Dave. I know I just like showing him up for the fool he is.
Typical FGhoul traitors
If it means work for people in DCC then they will keep going until they get what they want at the taxpayers expense. They sold all the council houses for half nothing so they wouldn’t have to deal with maintaining them. Now we are paying the price for that.
It’s time there was a “Battle of Leinster House” and when it’s over I propose it is turned to rubble.
If those blueshirts want to make history their own they would want to be careful as it may not be to their liking !!!!!.
All it needs to change the way this country is going is for the people to say “We have had enough ” ,
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH !!!!!
Oh please minister let this one go and don’t take it personally the high Court ruling. Here’s a little idea put the money on appealing this into housing in Dublin for all those little kids who are holed up in a hotel room tonight instead of a home.
Reminds me of this story I saw last week. Debtor EZ nations heritage and national assets being sold off and privatised in liquidation firesale.
http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2016/06/04/historic-tombs-of-venizelos-transferred-to-privatization-fund-acropolis-next/
“The tomb of one of the most famous Greek politicians Eleftherios Venizelos, the “maker of modern Greece” has been transferred to the new Privatization Fund allegedly in order to be able to be properly ‘utilized’ – see sold.
Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos passed a legislation amendment on Thursday according to which all properties belonging to Greek Tourism Organization (GTO/EOT) will be transferred to the new Privatization super Fund that will sale them to interested investors.”
It’s really disgusting how low Europe has sunk. How much longer are people going to stand by and let this happen? Why are the government so worried about this precedent? What other sites of historical significance do they intend to flog?
“a consultative group on Moore Street with an independent chair will be established in the coming weeks” No No not another political shirk. Cowards.
MacMenamin to the rescue…maybe….JK lol. Only buzzin….
She can go and F@#K
Do to Moore St as they did to Nelson’s column.
Nelsons column was an eyesore. Dubliners hated it because it caused serious traffic disruptions, in fact nobody ever wanted it, the public fund raising project to erect the monument failed miserably because no one contributed to it. Good riddance.
I think the government should be chasing that scab who closed Clerys.
She must be driven out of business entirely as she is a cancer on this country.
Heather Humphreys.
Need I say more.
More brown envelopes
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