A picture of the present reality of abortion in Donegal has been uncovered by Together for Yes.

Fresh figures have found that 388 women in Donegal travelled to the UK for an abortion between 2012 and 2016.

According to the UK Department of Health and Social Care, 388 women gave a Donegal address when they travelled to England or Wales for an abortion over the five-year period.

Specifically, the number of women from Donegal who travelled include 83 in 2012, 87 in 2013, 88 in 2014, 67 in 2015, and 63 in 2016.

The figures are revealed today by Together For Yes as they launched their national conversations tour this week. ‘Get Together For Yes’ will visit 22 locations over 12 days, and the tour aims to create a space for open and honest discussion about the 8th amendment.

‘Get Together For Yes’ will visit Donegal on Wednesday May 16, 2018 at Dillon’s Hotel in Letterkenny at 7pm.

Orla O’Connor at the Donegal Together for Yes Campaign Launch, Jackson’s Hotel Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, 20st April 2018

Campaign Co-Director Orla O’Connor stated: “These figures from the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK lay out in stark detail the numbers of women from Donegal who have travelled to the UK for an abortion between 2012 and 2016.

“They prove that abortion is a reality in Donegal – it is just unsafe and unregulated. The figures don’t even take account of the number of women in Donegal who may have taken an abortion pill or travelled to another jurisdiction in Europe for an abortion.

“Overall, more than 18,000 women in Ireland travelled to the UK for an abortion during the five-year period. These include women from Donegal. The vote on May 25 therefore isn’t a vote on whether to bring abortion to Ireland – because it is quite clear that it is already here. It is a vote on whether Ireland wants to make abortion safe, regulated, and provide care to women who need abortions, or to continue allowing unsafe and unregulated abortions to take place in our country.”

Ms O’Connor said Together For Yes are looking forward to a national tour of raising sensitive and difficult discussions and bringing their message into towns and local communities across Ireland to encourage conversations about the referendum.