THE 20-PERSON POLL:On Wednesday evening in Dublin a demonstration organised to protest the delay in passing legislation on the X case quickly turned into a demonstration expressing shock at the death of, and solidarity with, Savita Halappanavar, who died at Galway University Hospital last month. Hundreds of people mobilised on Facebook, Twitter and through their friends and families, gathering outside Leinster House and bringing Kildare Street and Molesworth Street to a standstill for an hour. UNA MULLALLYasked 20 of those in the crowd why they were there.
Barry Rogerson
“I’m here to show my support for the lady who died.”
Mark Horgan
“I’m here because I feel people of my age group, people in their 20s and 30s, have stood back and haven’t made their voices heard on issues that divide people. Maybe people being heard might make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.”
Josune Suarez
“I’m from Spain, and there we already have legislation. I think it’s important to have it here as well; it’s a really important thing. If there was a conversation about this in 1992 then why isn’t it already done?”
Jenny Kennan
Accompanied by her daughters Naomi Kennan-O’Shea and Keziah Kennan-O’Shea
“I’m here because I believe in a woman’s right to choose and I don’t believe that anyone should die for that to happen.”
Mairead MacConmara
“It’s immoral what happened. [The Government] are cowards, and no one will face up to it. It’s another Irish solution to an Irish problem.”
Meirwen Watson
“This country didn’t make a decision 20 years ago and our voices need to be heard.”
Eimear Keogh
“I’m here because I think legislation should be brought in if a mother’s life is in danger.”
Eoin Purtill
“I’m here in support of the woman who died. I was pretty shocked reading the news today. It’s disgraceful. It’s medieval.”
Oonagh Murphy
“I’m here out of a mixture of anger and shame. But today I finally feel there’s enough attention on the topic, that we might be able to harness some sort of momentum to get legislation changed.”
Kate Dunne
“I’m here because today I feel ashamed to be Irish.”
Thomas Kelly
“Because I can’t believe a woman would be let die in circumstances where her life could clearly be saved.”
Howard Helen
“I’m here because seven successive governments have fudged the issue of proper legislation on abortion in the State. Then today Government officials hid behind two outstanding investigations. They have failed the Irish people, and the Irish people have failed as well, because it took this march for many of us to take action.”
Chelsea Uddo
“I woke up this morning and I just couldn’t believe it. I felt like crying all day. I couldn’t stop thinking, That could be me; it could be anyone.”
Georgia Scott
“I’m so shocked and outraged about what happened. To be left in that situation . . . Surely her life has to be the most important thing. It reminds me of the 18th century, but isn’t this meant to be the 21st?”
Roisin McLoughlin
“Outrage at what’s happened. I’m sick of 20 years of inaction.”
Yasmin Ahmed
“It’s a no-brainer. A woman should die? Why let two people die when you could save a life?”
Alan Sweetman
“I remember being involved in a right-to-choose campaign in Trinity College in 1979. Here we are 30 years later, and there’s been no real change.”
Rachel Reynolds
“I’m here because it makes sense to be here.”
Fí Rooney
“I think it’s disgusting. It should have been legislated for 20 years ago, and we’re still fighting for that to happen. This should never have happened.”
Joey Kavanagh
“I feel quite strongly about it but unfortunately it’s taken an incident like this to drive me to action. Hopefully some positive consequences will come of this awful tragedy.”
