Pro-Life Campaign wants inquiry on health board's handling of C case

The Pro-Life Campaign is calling for an independent inquiry into all aspects of the Eastern Health Board's handling of the C case. It has written to all members of the board asking about the circumstances in which the 13-year-old rape victim had an abortion in England earlier this month.

The PLC's letter coincides with a move by two board members, Mrs Bernadette Bonar and Mr Tommy Cullen, to have a debate on the case at the health board's meeting in Dublin tonight. They have tabled a motion calling on the board "to support and accept the guidance of the Medical Council on medical matters". They also oppose "the use of health board resources for unnecessary and harmful procedures, whether here or abroad".

The two board members have also asked questions which are due to receive written answers tonight. They want to know details of the arrangements made for the abortion, who accompanied the girl to England and the full cost to the board of the case.

The PLC is challenging the board's assertion that it had "never decided on, or sought an abortion for the child or in any way influenced her decision in this matter". Citing "facts" from the High Court judgment in the case, the PLC letter, written by its secretary, Mr John O'Reilly, asserts that the legal team retained by the board did not opt out of the legal argument but "played an active role in arguing the case for an abortion and in defending the District Court's decision". Thus, contrary to the impression given by the board, "the judgment appears to show that the board was not a neutral party in the court hearings".

The PLC has posed 36 questions relating to the board's handling of the C case which, it says, are matters of public interest to be considered by an inquiry. It asks how long the board has had contact with the girl's family; did the board previously regard the children as being under threat and were measures taken to alleviate this; and did the board act to alleviate the plight of the other children after C was taken into care.

It also asks if the board took steps to protect the welfare of the unborn child; if it considered the ethical guidelines of the Medical Council when deciding on its course of action, and if there was a precedent for the board arranging "controversial and complex medical procedures for a child in its care" without recourse to a second opinion.

The PLC finally asks if it was suggested to the girl at any stage that an abortion might not be in her best interests and if this was the first time the board had proposed, arranged or financed an abortion.