Thursday, May 8, 2014

High Court in London says NI women not entitled to free NHS abortions in England


In a decision that must be welcomed the High Court in London has ruled that women from Northern Ireland are not legally entitled to free abortions on the NHS in England.

Pro-life leaders have welcomed the news that tax-payers money cannot be used to destroy unborn babies. Not surprisingly however the Marie Stopes director in Northern Ireland has expressed disappointment at the ruling.

The case, brought by two women, was an attempt to circumvent the current legal position in Northern Ireland on the basis of discrimination

Northern Ireland is not covered by the ‘1967 Abortion Act’, which applies in the rest of the UK and the judge, Mr. Justice King consequently ruled this was not a discrimination issue.

The laws covering abortion in Northern Ireland are the 1861 Offences against the Person Act, and the 1945 Criminal Justice act. 


See BBC report