Ulster laws on abortion a ‘breach of human rights’

Northern Ireland’s strict abortion laws breach human rights rules, Belfast’s high Court ruled yesterday.

A legal challenge had been brought by Sarah ewart, who was forced to travel to england in 2013 for an abortion after doctors said her baby had a brain abnormality and would not survive.

the law in Northern Ireland currently forbids abortion unless a woman’s life is threatened by the pregnancy or there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental and physical health.

rape, incest or foetal abnormality are not grounds for abortion.

however, ruling in Belfast’s high Court, Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan said no other woman should be put through the same ‘trauma’ as Miss ewart.

Last night, the 29-year-old, who has since had two children, said the judgment was ‘a turning point’ and ‘a vindication of all those women who have fought tirelessly

‘Put through unnecessary pain’

to ensure we never again have to go through what I did in 2013’. She added: ‘I am massively relieved. too many women in Northern Ireland have been put through unnecessary pain by our abortion law.’

Miss ewart’s baby had been diagnosed with an abnormality that would have caused its death either during pregnancy or soon after birth. She was told, however, she could not have a termination.

the judge said: ‘She has had to modify her behaviour in that she could not have medical treatment in Northern Ireland due to the risk of criminal prosecution.’

the Supreme Court in London last year said Northern Ireland’s abortion laws breached european human rights rules, but could not order that it be changed because of a legal technicality.

however, legislation passed in Westminster recently will decriminalise abortion in April – unless devolution is restored and the Stormont Assembly, which has been suspended for two years, returns by october 21.