Groups criticise state response to abortion ruling

THE Government’s failure to introduce legislation on abortion following a ruling from the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has been severely criticised by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Family Planning Association.

The court gave the state six months to take action after it ruled a Lithuanian woman with cancer should have been able to have an abortion in Ireland since her life was at risk.

The Government told the court it intends to set up an expert group of medical and legal professionals to recommend how to deal with the issue.