Groups: Need for lawful abortions in some cases

There is an urgent need for interim measures to allow women with life-threatening pregnancies to have timely access to lawful abortion in cases where there is risk to their lives, the National Women’s Council of Ireland has warned.

The issue has come into focus after a parliamentary question by Labour TD Patrick Nulty revealed that nothing has been put in place to give effect to the X case judgment. This stated there could be lawful termination in cases where life was in danger.

A 2010 European Court of Human Rights ruling found Ireland to be in breach of its human rights obligations in the case of a woman with a life-threatening pregnancy, known as Miss C.