SPUC granted judicial review of Northern Ireland's guidance on abortion

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC Northern Ireland ), report that the High Court in Belfast has granted an application to SPUC for a judicial review of the Northern Ireland health department's guidance on abortion.

Mr Justice Weatherup allowed the application on the grounds that the department had erred in law in its view of the law on abortion in Northern Ireland, as summarised in the guidance, that the guidance is misleading and/or does not accurately portray the law on abortion in Northern Ireland and in publishing the guidance in its present form the Department was mistaken in a number of significant ways

Liam Gibson of SPUC Northern Ireland said: "We are very grateful to have the opportunity to present the issues that were not properly examined during the consultation, particularly the recommendations of the Stormont health committee. We hope that the department will now be reasonable and redraft the guidance which were fundamentally flawed and need radical revision."

It is understood that the health department have been given until Sept 1st to reply and all other respondants must reply before September 30th. the case has been scheduled for October 27-28.