Martina Anderson, former Sinn Féin MEP, reveals in her autobiography the difficult decision she made in 1985 to have an abortion to support an IRA mission.
In a candid revelation, former Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has shared the harrowing details of a personal struggle she faced during her time with the IRA. In her recently published autobiography, Choosing the Struggle Anderson opens up about the painful decision she made in 1985 that has haunted her for decades.
At the age of 22, Anderson was on the run in the Republic of Ireland, preparing to join an IRA unit operating in England. Weeks into the planning of an unspecified attack, she discovered she was pregnant. Faced with an impossible choice, she decided to have an abortion to avoid jeopardizing the mission and letting her comrades down.
Anderson’s painful decision
Speaking on RTÉ radio to presenter Miriam O’Callaghan Anderson admitted that she never expected to make this painful episode public. She emphasized her commitment to writing with honesty and integrity, stating, “Women like me, who had an unplanned pregnancy, and because of the circumstances that I found myself in, I put the struggle first, and I chose to have an abortion.”
Anderson described the decision as the hardest and most painful of her life, admitting it broke her but she was determined not to let her comrades down.
She has lived in silence about her ordeal for more than 40 years, hoping that by sharing her story, she might contribute to stopping the social and moral shaming of women in similar situations.
The aftermath and Anderson’s advocacy
In addition to her revelation about the abortion, Anderson also spoke about a botched surgery during her time at Durham Prison. A gynaecologist, nicknamed Dr Death by inmates, removed her womb during an operation to treat polyps, robbing her of the chance to have children. Anderson has been advocating for an end to the social and moral shaming of women, believing that the time for such judgment has passed.
Anderson’s journey from a young woman involved in the IRA to a former MEP and advocate for women’s rights is a testament to her resilience and strength. Her autobiography serves as a powerful narrative that sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by women in similar circumstances.
