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Irish Wedding News

08/05/2014

NI Women Not Entitled To Free Abortions In England

The High Court in London has said that women from Northern Ireland are not legally entitled to free abortions on the NHS in England.

It is understood the case was brought by two claimants who launched a legal challenge against the current legislation.

In Northern Ireland, abortion is only allowed in very specific circumstances, compared to other areas of the UK.

Announcing his decision, the presiding judge, Mr Justice King, admitted that while the legal differences had "not surprisingly, led to a steady stream" of women travelling from NI to England to receive an abortion, he added that the duty of the UK's Health Secretary is "a duty in relation to the physical and mental health of the people of England", and does not extend to women who "ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland".

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Last year, 51 terminations of pregnancy were carried out in hospitals across Northern Ireland, but figures suggest that more than 1,000 women from the region travel to England for abortions each year. Those who do must pay for the procedure, as well as travel and accommodation expenses.

In response to the decision, Dawn Purvis, Director of Marie Stopes Northern Ireland, issued a statement which read: "We are hugely disappointed that the women of Northern Ireland, who are citizens of the UK, remain unable to access the same services from the NHS as their mainland counterparts.

"The added layer of stress involved in finding the money to travel and pay for treatment can be crippling, making an already difficult situation for a woman that much tougher."

Pro-life group, Precious Life, also responded to the ruling. In a post on their Facebook page, they said: "Precious Life welcomes this good news that taxpayers' money cannot be used to destroy our unborn babies."

(JP/IT)

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"The High Court in London has said that women from Northern Ireland are not legally entitled to free abortions on the NHS in England."