‘No Catholic that I know wants to be in denial about anything bad that went on in the past.'

Rónán Mullen is readying himself for a big showdown on abortion

Independent Senator Rónán Mullen. 15/2/2017Picture Fergal Phillips

Senator Rónán Mullen is breathless when he answers his phone. “I’m in the gym in Bulgaria, just getting a bit of exercise before a spot of Mass . . . soul and body, you know!” he says with characteristic good cheer. He is in the Balkan country to act as a monitor for parliamentary elections.

Some weeks previously, I had met the independent senator in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel. He had laughed long and ...