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Rape Crisis Centre figures show 33% of women impregnated as result of rape had an abortion

Figures from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre suggest that the majority of women they work with who ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.40 24 Jan 2016


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Rape Crisis Centre figures sho...

Rape Crisis Centre figures show 33% of women impregnated as result of rape had an abortion

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.40 24 Jan 2016


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Figures from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre suggest that the majority of women they work with who become pregnant because of rape choose to keep the baby.

Their outgoing CEO says that just 33% of women in such cases had an abortion.

A Newstalk/Red C poll released earlier this week showed that in the case of rape or incest, 78% believe abortion should be allowed.

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However, Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop that in the majority of rape cases women choose to keep the child.

"Women we knew who had become pregnant as a consequence of rape, for example... of those 33% opted for terminations, and the others didn't," she told Colette Fitzpatrick.

"One percent was put up for adoption, one percent was put up for fostering, and there was quite a high proportion of miscarriages. But I think it was 54%... went on to parent," she added.

Ms O'Malley-Dunlop, who is due to run as an Independent candidate for the Seanad, told Colette that "these were women who were left to their own decisions - they were trusted and they made their own decisions".

Speaking about the debate surrounding abortion and her position on the 8th Amendment, she stressed that the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre does not hold a position in terms of abortion as they are there to support victims of sexual assault, so she was commenting as a Seanad candidate.

Ms O'Malley-Dunlop agreed people have to be respectful of others' positions. She explained, "I'm pro-life, I'm not anti-life. But I'm pro a woman's choice to make her own decision, and I do support the repeal of the 8th Amendment and its replacement with legislation".

You can listen back to more of Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop's comments below:


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