Harris describes practices by US anti-abortion group as 'chilling' and 'manipulative'

By Digital Desk staff

Update - 8.40pm: The Health Minister has described practices by a US anti-abortion group as both "chilling" and "manipulative."

It comes after an investigation by the Times Ireland found that a group was training people in Ireland to intercept women before they access abortion services.

It's claimed 'Sidewalk Advocates for Life' wanted to talk women out of having a termination.

Simon Harris has revealed that 274 GPs have signed up to provide abortion services in Ireland.

He said he is concerned about people attempting to undermine our democratic process.

"Last year the people of this country voted in overwhelming numbers to legalise abortion and take the decision to care for women here in our own country with compassion and without judgement.

I'm very concerned about what I've seen today in relation to those who would attempt to interfere with women in making what is always a difficult and personal decision.

Earlier: The National Women's Council of Ireland has called for a "zero tolerance approach" to any attempt to intimidate women aiming to access an abortion.

An undercover report for The Times Ireland Edition found an American anti-abortion group is planning to approach women in a bid to stop them from getting a termination.

It has led to calls for proposed legislation to introduce exclusion zones to be brought before the Oireachtas urgently.

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Women's Health Co-ordinator with the National Women's Council of Ireland Cliona Loughnane said the tactics of the group do not come as a surprise.

Ms Loughnane said: "It is a tactic that we see across other countries where anti-abortion groups try and intimidate women or coerce women.

"So I suppose we have to be able to react to it and that's why I think we all knew that we would need safety zone legislation and that has just become much more urgent."

Earlier: American anti-abortion activists are making major plans to try and talk women in Ireland out of having an abortion.

Today's Times Ireland reveals Sidewalk Advocates for Life will target rape victims and couples who have gone through fatal foetal abnormalities.

File photo.

Katie O'Neill from the Times Ireland Edition said the group has plans to approach them at hospital car parks.

Ms O'Neill said: "In America, they already have exclusion zones in certain locations which ban protests within a certain radius of the hospital, so sometimes that's where they have to get them is within the car park, they won't be able to get them on their way into the clinic.

"They are already trying to get around exclusion zones in Ireland by using this tactic, so they will be wearing hi-vis jackets and stopping every car that they see on their way in.

"They are hoping that, as per their training material, they say that they hope that some people will mistake them for parking attendants on their way in."

Ms O'Neill also said the group is trying to find out which doctors provide terminations.

She said: "They advised an undercover reporter with the Times to pretend to be a pregnant woman and to call up a number of GP services in order to determine which doctors were providing abortions so that they would know what locations they could and should picket at."