Miss D abortion travel case may be abandoned

SPECULATION mounted last night over whether the High Court abortion case involving the pregnant teenager known as “Miss D” will go ahead.

Lawyers for the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the girl, who is at the centre of the latest controversy over a female’s “right to travel” for an abortion, are expected to indicate to the High Court this morning if there is a need to continue.

It has emerged that a related, special sitting of the District Court took place on Saturday.

That hearing was held in camera because the issue was a family law matter.

The 17-year-old girl, who can only be identified as Miss D and is from the

Leinster area, applied to the High Court last week for several orders to restrict the HSE from attempting to prevent her from travelling to Britain for an abortion.

The girl, who is almost 18 weeks pregnant, wants to have a termination after an ultra-scan revealed her baby has a brain condition and will not survive long outside the womb.

Doctors have told the girl, who is under the care of the HSE because of an interim court order issued earlier this year, that her baby will have a maximum life expectancy of three days if the child is not stillborn.

Last week, her lawyers told the court the HSE had contacted local gardaí and the Passport Office as part of its efforts to stop her from travelling outside the State.

However, in an apparent U-turn, the HSE on Friday informed Mr Justice Liam McKechnie that it would not oppose her travelling abroad for an abortion, if certain conditions were met.

HSE barrister, Gerard Durcan, stressed that social workers had always held the view that Miss D would require the authorisation of the District Court to travel outside the jurisdiction for such a procedure.

It now appears a special sitting of the District Court was held on Saturday to formally grant Miss D the authority to travel to Britain for an abortion. However, it remains unclear if she has already made arrangements.

A HSE spokesperson refused to discuss details of the case yesterday, but confirmed the legal representatives for both sides were expected to appear before the High Court later today.

It is expected they will update Mr Justice McKechnie on the District Court proceedings.

It is possible the High Court proceedings will be abandoned because the basis for the continuation of Miss D’s legal challenge may no longer exist.