I’m an Irish dairy farmer, and the fact that my cows are allowed an abortion but women aren’t means I’ll be voting to repeal the 8th

It saddens and worries me that my cows can get better healthcare and more compassion than pregnant women in crisis in Ireland

The author Lorna Sixsmith and her dairy cows showing their support for removing Ireland’s eighth amendment (Georgina Willis)

Farmers for Yes is a network of farmers across Ireland who are campaigning for a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the eighth amendment.

We are gathering because we want abortion to be legally carried out in Ireland, to ensure that women get the best care and compassion possible. Currently, a pregnant cow can receive better healthcare treatment than a woman wanting to terminate a pregnancy – this is not OK.

Irish farmers know more than anyone that pregnancies don’t always go to plan. Things can go wrong. I have seen this through working with animals as a dairy farmer – pregnancies can be unwanted and occur accidentally, such as when an animal is too young. Sometimes my cows become unwell and require urgent treatment. In these cases treatment is carried out and an abortion must be induced, to protect the life of the mother. If a cow’s life is in danger, we do our best with veterinary treatment to save her life, whether she is pregnant or not.

Unfortunately women do not have these options in Ireland. Women with non-viable pregnancies have to wait until the heartbeat stops naturally or their own lives are in immediate danger before a termination can be carried out.

The Irish constitution, as it currently stands, equates the right of life of the mother with that of her unborn foetus. Abortion is illegal in Ireland, unless the pregnant woman is at risk of dying. What that means in reality is that if the pregnancy isn’t viable but there is still a faint heartbeat, a termination cannot be carried out unless there is a risk to the life of the mother.

Unfortunately, in 2012, Savita Halpanaaver, a young pregnant woman, died after contracting sepsis. The delay of carrying out an abortion, because of the heartbeat, meant the treatment was too late to save her life. Savita, who knew that the pregnancy wasn’t viable and was in severe pain, had asked for a termination and her request was refused.

There have been cases of other women travelling to Britain for treatment to save their lives, treatment they couldn’t get in Ireland because their foetus (although not viable) still had a heartbeat.

The eighth amendment does not prevent abortions happening. Women are travelling to Britain daily, often in dire straits. They are enduring extra expense, not to mention the trauma of travelling. Sometimes because of lack of funds, they leave the UK immediately after the treatment to return home. If complications occur later, they are often too scared to go to a hospital and wait until things get worse and it becomes a necessity.

‘Our campaign aims to show the diversity of views underlying the Yes vote in Ireland’s farming community’ (Georgina Willis)

Women are importing abortion pills illegally and taking them without medical supervision. It is only a matter of time before a woman becomes seriously ill and dies in a lonely farmhouse or a city centre apartment bathroom.

These women are unsupported and criminalised for such deeds. The penalty – although no woman has ever been sentenced – is up to 14 years in prison.

The fear among the Yes campaigners is that, once again, a delayed termination will be too late and another woman will die.

Our campaign aims to show the diversity of views underlying the Yes vote in Ireland’s farming community. We have been active in campaigning at large agricultural events and are currently working hard campaigning with local canvassers in our own areas.

As a farmer, I am proud of my dairy herd. I work hard to ensure they are in good health. I would never let a pregnant cow suffer or allow her health to be compromised by a pregnancy. It saddens and worries me that my cows can get better healthcare and more compassion from my family and our veterinary surgeon than pregnant women in crisis in this country might receive from medical doctors.

The eighth amendment protects neither Irish babies nor their mothers.

The eighth amendment means women’s lives, once they become pregnant, are at risk. On Friday 25 May, Irish people will vote in this referendum. I will be voting to repeal the 8th – for all Irish women: daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, women, rural and urban. If it is repealed, healthcare choices in Ireland will improve for women and their babies.

Lorna Sixsmith is a dairy farmer near Kilkenny and a campaigner for Farmers for Yes