Tell parents ‘the full truth’ about Down Syndrome, father appeals

The father of a man with Down Syndrome has appealed to hospitals to give parents more support following a diagnosis that a child in the womb has the condition.

Michael O’Dowd’s son, Conor, delivered a letter to Professor Fergal Malone – Master of Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital until last month – in response to his comment that 95oc of parents diagnosed with a Down Syndrome baby there choose to travel abroad for an abortion.

Michael, a former Mayor of Drogheda and Aontú representative, told Newstalk Breakfast his son was upset by that reality.

“Conor is very defensive about the fact, and very proud of the fact, that he has Down Syndrome,” he said.

“He doesn’t see anything wrong with it, and indeed there is nothing wrong with it.

“He was quite upset by the comments by Prof Malone that 95pc of parents choose abortion; or as he put it in his letter: I don’t understand why people take away babies with Down Syndrome – it’s very unfair and very wrong is what he said.

“He felt compelled, and I certainly supported him in delivering a letter to Prof Malone at the Rotunda Hospital.”