The majority of women who contacted the organisers of the ‘abortion pill bus’ were pregnant mothers who couldn’t afford more children, say organisers.
The bus, which travelled around Ireland for the last two days offering information on how to buy abortion pills, as well as online consultations with Women on Web founder Dr Rebecca Gomperts, is run by pro-choice activists and part of a campaign to highlight the availability of the World Health Organisation-approved drugs.
The group stopped in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway for rallies and demonstrations protesting the eighth amendment, which bans abortion in Ireland.
According to the latest figures, 3,739 women who travelled to the UK to have an abortion in 2014 gave Republic of Ireland addresses, an increase on the previous year when 3679 made the trip to have a procedure.
Few people are aware that abortion is still a criminal offence here and carries a potential 14-year prison sentence on conviction.
On the road again with the #AbortionPillBus greet us in #Cork at 11:30 in Winthrop street to support #repealthe8th pic.twitter.com/sTFCUM2VuK
— Ruth Coppinger TD (@RuthCoppingerTD) October 24, 2015
TD Ruth Coppinger, who travelled the country on the bus this weekend, said:
“Most of the women contacting us regarding the abortion pill have children already and they simply feel they can’t have any more for various reasons,”
“This shouldn’t be happening. Women should have the choice to make these decisions about their own bodies.
“The other thing is, hundreds of women are taking these pills in their own bedrooms as we speak, so the idea that we can stem the tide against allowing abortion in this country is simply mistaken.”
Do you believe Irish women should have access to abortion? Join the conversation on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
Main Image: Amana Dultra
