LAST MONTH, Abortion Support Network, a charity which supports Irish women who travel to Britain for abortions heard from heard 67 women seeking help, advice, or financial support.
Every month ASN provides financial assistance, accommodation, and confidential information to women who chose to travel from Ireland and pay privately for abortions in England.
The cost ranges from between £400 and £2000 depending on circumstance and stage of pregnancy.
Here are some of their stories in their own words...
“I have just recently come out of an abusive relationship. I have found out that I am now 7 weeks pregnant and in need of an abortion. I am out of my mind with worries as if I continue with the pregnancy my ex will come back and I can't go through all the mental physical and sexual abuse again. I was wondering is there any way you come help me. I have about 200 to my name and that is not near enough to cover the abortion.”
"My friend passed your number to me I have already booked an abortion and not only am I afraid but also cannot afford [it]. I am a single mother of three and have a young baby. I have no help but your support please if you can help anyone please help me.”
“I am in serious trouble. My partner is off work unpaid and the only money I have is for my mortgage. I can't ask for help from anyone else as I'm keeping this between myself and my partner who is quite ill. I am completely stressed out and an emotional mess.”
"No one ever talks about abortion, I could tell my best friend anything but this. I just hope that when my daughters are grown things are different for them."
"I understand that you have large quantities of people to support but finding myself in this situation I really don't have anywhere else to turn. I'm just enquiring about being given financial assistance for an abortion. I haven't booked flights or clinic yet as I simply don't have the money at all. I'm a student and barely have the money to get by day to day. I can’t tell my mum and anyway she doesn’t have any money to give me. I'm honestly terrified and have no idea what I'll do if I can't get the abortion I need. If I can't get the abortion it's essentially the life I planned and worked and trained so hard for gone.”
"I have only recently found out that I am pregnant, a scan has confirmed that I am 11 weeks pregnant. Although I love children and have a son already this couldn't be worse timing because of the severe housing crisis in Ireland now we are currently homeless and unfortunately these circumstances do not look likely to change in the foreseeable future.”
"I'm heartbroken, but it's the right thing for my kids, the right thing for me."
For more information about the Abortion Support Network visit their website here.
