IRISH FEMINIST GROUP Speaking of Imelda temporarily halted the London St Patrick’s Day parade yesterday, demanding “free, safe and legal” abortion in Ireland.

The women lined up in front of the parade floats and defied a large model of St Patrick to come any closer. They shook snakes and chanted “Our bodies, our choice. Autonomy. Women on the island of Ireland need access to free, safe, legal abortion now.”

The action, coordinated by pro-choice campaign group, Speaking of Imelda, was aimed to “highlight how women on the island of Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) are prohibited access to free, safe and legal abortion”, organisers said.

The say that the prohibition “amounts to a denial of personal and bodily autonomy for pregnant people and leads to unnecessary suffering and cruel hardship for those who feel they need to end their pregnancy – most especially for those who cannot afford, or who are not legally permitted, to travel to England to obtain an abortion.”

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Source: Speaking of Imelda

Speaking of Imelda have previously garnered attention by “knicker bombing” Enda Kenny and hanging a pair of knickers off the gates of the Dáil.

The parade, marshalled by Barry McGuigan, attracted thousands to the streets of the English capital.