District court judge satisfied granting order would have been unlawful

THE 17-year-old girl at the centre of the latest abortion controversy was refused an order by a District Court judge at the weekend allowing her to travel to Britain for an abortion.

The news was outlined to a special sitting of the High Court yesterday.

Gerard Durkan SC, for the HSE, yesterday told the court the HSE had made an application during in camera proceedings at the district court for a direction under the Child Care Act on whether it would be lawful for Miss D to travel to Britain for a termination.