David Ford shuts bereaved parents out of consultation
David Ford, the Justice Minister, has refused to let parents whose babies died because of a severe disability speak at a consultation which intends to legalise abortion for babies with a disability in Northern Ireland.
"He made us feel as if our children's lives were worthless, but we loved them so much, no matter how short their lives were. We wanted to explain that to the Minister , but our experiences simply didn't seem to matter to him," said parents from the Every Life Counts group.
Parents said that they were distressed and bewildered at Mr Ford's decision especially when his support for a change in the law on abortion would have such profound effect on children with severe disabilities.
One mother, Gemma Bradley wrote an open letter saying "You say you are not in favour of abortion in every case, but that you support abortion where the child has a serious disability: a child like my little girl, Lily Rose who had Trisomy 18."
"You are singling babies like my daughter out for abortion, for no other reason than they have a disability. It is the worst form of discrimination. It breaks my heart and it breaks the hearts of so many parents whose children have died because of a life-limiting disability, like anencephaly or Trisomy 18 or Trisomy 13."
"I had written to David Ford on the 5th November, requesting a meeting with him to discuss my experience and why I felt legalising abortion would not help mothers in my position. In response, Mr Ford refused to meet with me and dismissed my concerns, hiding behind the rhetoric of 'choice':
"He said he only wanted to hear from women who felt babies like mine should be aborted.
"David Ford doesn't want to hear our stories. David Ford refused to recognise that our children's lives had value and they were so deeply loved. The time we had with them was a gift we will treasure forever.
Contact DAVID FORD now and ask him to meet these brave parents Email: southantrim@davidford.org or private.office@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk |
"Doctors have testified that there is no condition for which they can say with certainty that the baby won't live beyond the womb. Many of the precious babies in our group lived for longer than expected and the time they had with their parents was so special and brought healing.
"My Lily Rose had Trisomy 18, but she lived inside me for 32 weeks. She kicked and moved and reacted to my voice, and she was loved for every minute by me and my family. That was her life, and she was my amazing, beautiful, special little girl.
"She wasn't a 'sort of life' as David Ford so hurtfully described her. She was my child, and she will live on forever in our hearts."
"Mr Ford, I want you to understand how devastating it is for me to hear you say that other babies have a right to life, but that my daughter Lily Rose could be aborted, simply because she had a disability.
"At the hospital I was told my baby was 'incompatible with life' and told to 'go home and Google' Trisomy 18. Parents need real information and more support, not abortion.
"I am writing this letter because I have had enough: I have had enough of feeling so upset and distressed every time I hear you and others describe my little girl as a 'sort of life' or 'incompatible with life' or saying she it would have been a good 'choice' to abort her.
"I have had enough of my baby girl being talked about as being less worthy than other babies - as being a suitable candidate for abortion.
"I am asking you to do the decent thing and meet with families who know that abortion is not a humane response to a mother’s heartbreak when her precious baby has been diagnosed with a life-limiting disability.
Contact DAVID FORD now and ask him to meet these brave parents Email: southantrim@davidford.org or private.office@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk |