Wicklow woman Marie Fleming has lost her landmark High Court action challenging the absolute ban on assisted suicide
The 58 year old who is paralysed and in the final stages of multiple sclerosis wants the right to end her life without fear her family or partner will be prosecuted should they assist her
Marie Fleming’s lawyers have indicated they may appeal today’s ruling
The judgment describes the mother of two as the most remarkable witness any member of the court has ever been privileged enough to encounter
On Friday’s Morning Focus we heard Bernadette Parte, Solicitor for Marie Fleming, speaking on Marie Fleming’s behalf outside the court after the ruling
John Cooke spoke with Dr Adam McAuley, Law lecturer at Dublin City University.
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin says he supports the Government’s plans to introduce abortion in limited, regulated circumstances
Michael Jackson is one of a number of religious representatives who appeared before the Oireachtas Health Committee’s final hearing on abortion yesterday
The five main churches and Atheist Ireland appeared
They were followed by the Pro-Life campaign, Youth Defence, Family and Life and the Iona institute
Reverend Doctor Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin, said the Supreme Court ruling in the X case – allowing for an abortion when a woman is suicidal because of the pregnancy – is unsound
Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times discussed.
Advocacy groups for the elderly and elderly people are concerned about their safety following cuts to personal security alarm grants – and Garda stations
The Government is cutting funding for panic alarms from 2.45 million to 1.15 million
Head of Advocacy with Age Action Eamon Timmins says this, coupled with the decision to close a number of Garda stations around the country and remove Community Officers, has left elderly people worried about their safety
And he has described the decision to cut funding for panic alarms as "crazy"
Ger Hoey, Chairman of the Flagmount Kilanena Community Alert, expressed the groups concern over such a move.
In our Morning Focus health slot we speak with Dr Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre. Today Dr Finn discussed Infertility
Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre, and will be joining us again next Friday for more medical advice. You can always send us your thoughts and queries by email focus@clare.fm, but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP
This Sunday an information presentation on the new and controversial ‘fracking’ method by the Clare Anti-Fracking group will taking place in the Stella Maris Hotel in Kilkee at 7.30pm
It aims to explain what impact this type of drilling – used to extract shale gas – could have on the local West Clare area
Organiser Roisin Garvey said the information on the night may be of particular interest to farmers and food producers but it’s also of interest to the general public
All are welcome- the presentation will be followed by a Questions & Answers session.
John spoke with two more secondary schools representing Clare at the Young Scientist Exhibition this week
Lynn O’Doherty from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon and her classmates entered their research – An investigation into the potential anti-inflammatory properties of North Clare seaweed extracts on intestinal inflammations – in the competition
Aisling Talty of Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon had a word about her and Sarah Isenberg’s entry entry entitled: Is there a correlation between the size of the Hiatella’s shell and the hole that they bore in limestone rock?
Sarah Cullinan of Rice College, Ennis spoke about her research that studies the effects of environmental factors on wood decay and is in the biological and geological section of the competition .
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
