The Journal reports that a man has gone to the High Court in Dublin over his fear that his
pregnant girlfriend is being forced by her family to travel abroad for an
abortion against her will.
The court heard this afternoon that the man does not wish to
stop the woman from traveling for a termination if it is her own choice and she
is not under duress.
Lawyers representing the man said that the woman involved is
under “huge pressure”.
“Indications to us are that the defendant wishes to go ahead
with the pregnancy,” Seamus Ó Tuathail told the court. He suggested that the
woman may be able to speak with a forensic psychiatrist to make it clear what
her wishes are.
Upon finding out that the woman involved does not have legal
representation, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said it would be “wholly appropriate”
for her to receive legal advice. The judge adjourned the case until 11am on
Friday to allow time for this to take place.
The woman and her boyfriend sat beside each other at the
back of the court this afternoon as the application was discussed. None of her
family members were present.
Ó Tuathial said that the case was “essentially a factual
issue” and said that his client “does not have any desire to restrain the
defendant from travelling.”
At the resumption of the hearing this afternoon Ms Justice
Laffoy ruled that the people cannot be identified due to the nature of the case.
