Wicklow TDs in Abortion War of Words

Wicklow Fianna Fail TD Dick Roche caused fury in the Dáil on Tuesday as he apparently accused a fellow Wicklow TD - Labour's Liz McManus- of being "pro-abortionist". In the resulting furore Fine Gael's Nora Owen was suspended when she insisted that

Roche: denied calling McManus a "pro-abortionist".

Mr Roche withdraw his remarks. As she was being asked to leave the Dáil she shouted, apparently at Mr Roche: "Stop your sneering up there, you're only a thug." The Ceann Comhairle then had to call a 15 minute recess until tempers cooled.

However deputy Roche today denied calling McManus a "pro-abortionist". "I am reasonably articulate. To say pro-abortionist makes no sense", said deputy Roche. "You are either an abortionist or you are not. What I said was 'if you are pro-abortion, why aren't you honest enough to just come out and say so'."

In an attempt to clarify the situation the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, examined the tapes of the discussion but, according to a spokesperson, "to the best of his ability he could not ascertain who said what". However journalists later

McManus: not pro-abortion but pro-choice.

listening to the video tape of the session could distinctly hear a voice from the Fianna Fáil backbenches saying either "you are pro-abortion" or "you are pro-abortionist".

Deputy McManus is certain that she heard the remark, although is unsure whether it was aimed at her or at her party. She denied that she was pro-abortion but instead described herself as pro-choice. "I would prefer if no woman had an abortion. I have four children and three grandchildren, and that applies to them just as much as anyone else. I would always prefer if a pregnant woman carried the child to full term."