High court rules that NI’s abortion legislation breaches human rights law

The case was brought by Northern Ireland’s Human Rights Commission who want women who present with cases involving fatal foetal abnormalities, rape or incest to be allowed to terminate their pregnancy.

Women living in Northern Ireland are currently forced to travel overseas to have an abortion as the 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to this part of the UK.

Speaking at the landmark legal challenge, Judge Mr Justice Mark said: “The Article Eight rights of women in Northern Ireland who are pregnant with fatal foetal abnormalities or who are pregnant as a result of sexual crime are breached by the impugned provisions.”