The government consultation about new Abortion Reform Bill got nearly 3,000 responses.

The consultation on the bill - allowing terminations in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and loosen restrictions thereafter - closed on Monday.

The number of responses dwarfs other consultations from government. The contentious suggestion to charge for prescriptions attracted only 270 responses.

Under the present legislation, abortions can be carried out only if a pregnancy is the result of rape or because of mental health concerns.

The consultation follows a decision in January by Tynwald to redraft abortion laws.

Campaigners on both sides of the debate have spoken up.

Malcolm Newton from pro-life group Life Isle of Man has sent ’Life Before Birth’ leaflets from anti-abortion group Life Charity to MHKs urging them to vote against the bill.

The Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM) said the leaflet contains ’distressing (and inaccurate) images’ and will contact all MHKs and MLCs in due course ’not to scaremonger but to present our less emotive but just as powerful message.’

Most striking was an interview on Manx Radio on Tuesday by Deborah McCann, who had an abortion after being raped at knifepoint at the age of 17 by a man she thought was a friend.

She was prompted to share her story after hearing an interview the day before with Mr Newton.She told Manx Radio that after the attack: ’I was in absolute shock, my head was all over the place. I couldn’t talk to anyone.’

She had an abortion at a clinic. ’I have no regrets,’ she said. ’I regret I had to go through that experience.

’The thing that got me [about comments made by Mr Newton on Manx Radio earlier in the week] was the suggestion - and as it now stands in Manx law - a woman to be allowed an abortion she must sign an affidavit.

’She’s traumatised once and then traumatised by the establishment. She needs support â?¦ there should be no caveat for that.

’I could barely admit it had happened to myself, to feel like I had to "confess" it or be forced to go to the police.’

She added: ’A woman who has been raped is not responsible for the rapist, it is not her duty to make sure he is prosecuted, don’t put that on the victim. I’m in my mid-50s, it’s only recently I have felt not ashamed.’

She said the proposed bill is ’very good'. She said: 'It is very well drafted. An awful lot of thought and care has gone into it. But the way the victims of rape have been singled out by the pro life campaign I find offensive. It is an insult. The intimation women would fake the fact [that they were raped] is an insult, anyone suggesting that needs to examine their conscience and their soul.’

CALM has had no contact with Ms McCann. But the group thanked her for sharing her story.

The group thanked Dr Alex Allinson MHK for raising the issue in a Private Members’ Bill. ’It takes a lot of courage to take on an issue such as abortion ... which has been shrouded with secrecy and stigma on island,’ the group said. ’CALM is delighted that this bill has been drafted, and that it has progressed to a stage where the public finally has the opportunity to give its views on the new draft legislation which we fully support and firmly believe will much better serve the Manx people.

’This issue is being openly discussed by the general public and in the media and we are finally hearing the stories of those who have been forced to travel for abortion, forced to take illegal medication ordered from the internet or forced to continue with a pregnancy they didn’t want.’