Suicidal women seeking abortion to be ‘on trial’

Suicidal women seeking a termination will be “put on trial” under Fine Gael plans to legislate for the X case, Labour has warned.

Heightened tensions within the Coalition over abortion have exploded into the open again, with Fine Gael moves to get six consultants to assess suicidal risk cases being branded “impractical” by Labour.

Draft proposals put forward by James Reilly, the health minister, are believed to have contained an attempt to ease Fine Gael backbench concern over the legislation by inserting the clause that six consultants would be needed to certify a termination in cases where suicide posed a threat to the life of the mother.