Sir, - Allow me to express my disappointment at the High Court verdict in allowing the young 13year-old mother to go for an abortion - an action that she will most probably rue sooner or later in the years to come, as the realisation of what has been done is brought home to her. If the victims of child abuse can, as they assert, have these traumatic experiences lingering with them into later years, surely a person of 13 years will become more and more aware of what took place in her emotional and maturing life.
After all what sort of judgment could a 13-year-old adolescent be expected to make in finding herself in such an emotional situation? But instead of the protection and assurance that she had a right to expect, she is now sent into a state of future trauma and, as well, a beautiful young life, fresh from the hands of the Creator with all its human potential, is snuffed out. What a tragedy! - Yours, etc., From Placid C. Nolan OP
Holy Cross Priory, Tralee, Co Kerry.