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fatal foetal abnormality

Other families' bravery made me talk about my daughter Ella - Boyd Barrett

The People Before Profit TD recounted his own personal tragedy in a Dáil debate in February.

RICHARD BOYD BARRETT has said the bravery of other families in talking about their experiences of fatal foetal abnormality made him talk publicly about his own personal tragedy.

The People Before Profit TD revealed in the Dáil in February that he had to bury his daughter Ella, who had a fatal foetal abnormality, Trisomy 13.

In a speech on Clare Daly’s private members’ bill, Boyd Barrett spoke of how his daughter would have been 13 this year. He said she was a child “we desperately wanted” but who was a victim “of the cruelty of nature”.

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In an interview with TheJournal.ie this week, Boyd Barrett said he had only decided to speak about it on the way into Leinster House that morning after discussing it with his ex-partner.

He cited the bravery of other families who have spoken about dealing with children who have fatal foetal abnormalities.

I felt if they had the bravery to speak out about their personal circumstances and histories and tragedies that I should, as a public representative, I had a certain obligation to do it in those circumstances.

Video: Paul Hosford

More from our interview with Richard Boyd Barrett…

Read: Why is this TD always shouting and roaring in the Dáil?

Read: Why Richard Boyd Barrett thinks heroin and cocaine should be decriminalised

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