Very serious, confusing, and concerning questions arise from the Irish Times story published today about Ms Claire Malone, who will appear at an Amnesty Ireland “vote yes” event, Save the 8th has said.
The story published today seems to be at significant odds with Ms Malone’s account of her pregnancy, as chronicled on her personal blog, “ploddingalongquietlycrazily”.
On her blog on August 17th, 2017, Ms Malone wrote:
“So… fingers crossed that it all goes well, although unplanned it was a happy blooper that we want very much. We are aware of the risks but also aware that it’s worth proceeding with. Whatever the outcome. We hope for a happy healthy baby by the end of it all, but no matter what, this little one is loved before it ever makes its entrance and has brought us all a new feeling of hope and positivity.”
Later, on September 12th, Ms Malone writes (emphasis added):
“I’ve spoken to all the specialists who are monitoring me through 4 hospitals at the moment every few weeks. 3 in Dublin and our local hospital in Wexford. I have been told that this pregnancy is high risk, but on evaluation I was advised I was “safe enough” to proceed.
I was really happy with that outcome, but wishing the 9 months were up to avoid all the drama in between. I have asked so many questions the most pressing one was “will this kill me?”, I am given various degrees of answers, some positive enough and others with mixed views and trepidation. The reality is my illnesses aren’t common, the are unusual and the management of them is basically guess work. So I’m getting a lot of, we will see how things go…”
On the same day, Ms Malone expressed utmost confidence in her doctors, saying:
“So for now I’m just going to go with the flow, realise that google is not my friend for anything in relation to my health issues and pregnancy and put my trust in the people managing my care. I know they’ll do everything possible to ensure both of us are as safe as possible throughout. I hope my body copes and can provide the wee one with what it needs for the next few months.”
Further, at the beginning of her pregnancy, Ms Malone makes very clear that she was told a termination could be offered to her if her pregnancy began to threaten her:
“I left feeling uncertain as to whether this was something I could go through with but my heart wanted it, my brain was telling me to be sensible… if the pregnancy was too high risk then a termination was something I was entitled to under irish law as my life would be in danger… but we wouldn’t know this either way until Wednesday…”
Throughout her pregnancy, Ms Malone chronicles her medical care, praises her doctors, makes clear that she very much wanted her pregnancy, and says that her condition was described to her as a “one in a billion” case.
Strangely, today’s Irish Times report paints a very different picture of Ms Malone’s treatment.
In the Irish Times, Ms Malone is quoted as saying:
“When I found out I was pregnant I was devastated. My first question was: ‘Is this pregnancy going to kill me?’”
However, writing at the time, Ms Malone says:
“So it’s been just over a week since I found out… and to be honest I’m over the moon, I have told my nearest and dearest and have the support of those I love and who love me”
Ms Malone’s attitude to her pregnancy appears to have changed dramatically since she encountered Colm O’Gorman and Kitty Holland.
In the Irish Times, Kitty Holland writes that Ms Malone says:
“Everywhere I went, I felt snookered and became resigned that I was going to have to proceed with the pregnancy . . . There was no way out of that.”
Yet, at the time, Ms Malone professes herself to have been over the moon.
Indeed, throughout her pregnancy, Ms Malone makes clear that her pregnancy was a very wanted one. She writes that she is delighted. She writes that she is very happy to have her daughter.
The Irish Times does not include any of this material, and strangely, does not report Ms Malone’s contemporary, written in real time, accounts of her pregnancy.
This is remarkable.
Ms Malone appears to have had a sudden and complete change of heart in relation to both her treatment and her pregnancy. This change of heart appears to have occurred during a referendum campaign, at the same time she encountered a campaigning, pro-choice journalist, and a pro-choice organisation funded by George Soros.
Save the 8th attributes no blame to Ms Malone for this confusion. But the Irish Times and Amnesty Ireland should clearly explain how her account today differs so very significantly from the account she offered contemporaneously during her pregnancy.
In the absence of such an account, the only reasonable conclusion is that an Irish Times journalist, aided by a campaign group, is deliberately omitting key information in order to influence the result of a referendum.”
ENDS
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