THE wife of the Irish President has described females being forced to continue with pregnancy until full term in cases of fatal foetal abnormality as an "outrage against women".
Campaigners on both sides of the abortion debate in Northern Ireland have reacted strongly to the first public comments on the matter by Sabina Coyne-Higgins.
At an event held in Trinity College's School of Nursing in Dublin last Wednesday midwifery students were debating whether Ireland's maternity care has realised the ideals of the 1916 leaders outlined in the Proclamation.
Ms Coyne-Higgins would not express a view on either side of the motion but after the discussion, organised by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, spoke on a range of issues including breastfeeding, and also described circumstances where women "should be made carry" in cases of fatal foetal abnormality as "outrages against women...the world and nature".
Director of Belfast-based Precious Life anti-abortion group Bernie Smyth told the Irish News she believes "people throughout Ireland will be totally outraged by the comments" and described her as "misinformed".
"Abortion is not health care it is the deliberate destruction of an innocent unborn child," she said.
"It is very disingenuous of a woman in her position to misinform and try to influence future midwives who are in the profession to care for both the mother and her unborn child.
"While she entitled to her opinion she's not entitled to use it to promote her own agenda.
"Mrs Higgins should be promoting perinatal care that protects both the mother and her child."
But chair of the Alliance for Choice group Kellie O'Dowd was pleased Sabina Higgins spoke out.
"We welcome her being vocal on the issue," she said.
"She has spoken and is the closest thing to the President speaking.
"Abortion is a national issue north and south.
"We need proper abortion legislation to look after our women."
Ms O'Dowd also said the election of People Before Profit MLA Eamonn McCann and Green Party deputy leader Clare Bailey to the Stormont Assembly was encouraging to Trust Women campaigners in the North and they hoped "progressive abortion legislation" would be introduced soon.
Unlike the rest of the UK abortion is only allowed in very limited circumstances in Northern Ireland.
They can only be performed to save a woman's life, or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.
