Cabinet to defy UN on abortion reforms despite condemnation of existing laws as 'cruel, inhuman and degrading'

The Government is to defy the United Nations by stalling on abortion reform, despite a condemnation of the existing laws as “cruel, inhuman and degrading”.

Ruling on a case taken by a Dublin woman forced to travel to England to terminate her pregnancy after a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality, the UN Human Rights Committee said the State had subjected her to “intense physical and mental suffering”, to “shame and stigma”, breach of privacy and discrimination.

Amanda Mellet’s treatment amounted to multiple violations of international human rights laws to which Ireland was a signatory, it said, adding that the State was obliged to prevent similar violations occuring in the future through legislation and/or a referendum.