A pregnant woman in Dublin, Ireland told authorities she is “living in fear for me and my kids and my unborn child” after her boyfriend allegedly threatened to drag her “by the hair of her head to the abortion clinic” when she refused to kill her baby in an abortion.
That’s according to court testimony and a local news report that underscores the perils of coercive control against expectant mothers.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was refused bail last Friday at Tallaght District Court following the September 12 domestic incident in Dublin’s Tallaght area.
The 20-something defendant pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal damage and theft, which stem from allegations that he jumped on his girlfriend’s car, threw her clothes around the home, smashed furniture, and refused to return her house keys.
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Gardaí, Ireland’s national police, recovered a key to the woman’s home from the man’s pocket during a search the following day.
The woman’s statement to investigators detailed the harrowing threat, which arose after she rejected pressure to have an abortion. She described living under constant duress, a situation that pro-life advocates say exemplifies the emotional and physical violence too often inflicted on women seeking to protect their unborn children from abortion.
Judge John O’Leary, presiding over the hearing, cited the gravity of the alleged coercive behavior in denying bail.
“The matter is so fraught,” the judge said, emphasizing a “high likelihood” the defendant would interfere with the complainant, who remains in “genuine fear for herself and her unborn child.”
Garda Brendan Byrne objected to bail under the O’Callaghan principles, which guide Irish courts in assessing flight risks and potential witness tampering. The judge noted the defendant admitted taking the woman’s key and did not deny the threatening remarks.
Defense solicitor Padraig O’Donovan argued on behalf of the accused, offering compensation for the damage — which the man claimed was accidental — and proposing he live with his father if released.
“If she wants me to stay away, I’ll stay away 100 percent,” the defendant said through his lawyer.
Despite the assurances, O’Leary remanded the man in custody at Cloverhill Prison pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The judge reiterated the presumption of innocence but stressed that bail is not an absolute right, particularly in cases involving vulnerable pregnant women and their developing children.
The incident highlights the urgent need for stronger protections against domestic abuse targeting pregnancies, according to pro-life groups, who argue such coercion not only endangers mothers but also strikes at the heart of the right to life for the unborn. The woman, who has existing children, faces ongoing trauma as the legal process unfolds.
