Creighton says she is not alone in being target for 'vile' messages

Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton has said she is not alone in receiving what she has called “vile” communications in the course of the ongoing abortion debate.

Ms Creighton said being sent such letters and emails was part of “political life at the moment” and she did not think she was alone in being targeted.

She told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland yesterday the abortion debate was “traditionally very emotive” here and that “in a sense we are all prepared and bracing ourselves for what is going to be a particularly sensitive debate”.

The Government is set to respond to a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on the abortion situation in Ireland in the coming months.

Up to 20 Fine Gael TDs, including Ms Creighton, have raised doubts in recent months about the inclusion in any legislation of the threat of suicide as a ground for abortion.