State seeks to appeal ‘unborn’ means ‘child’ ruling

The State is seeking permission to appeal a High Court judgement which found the word “unborn” in the Constitution means an unborn “child” with rights beyond the right to life.

Although that finding was made in the context of an immigration case, it is understood that the State has been advised that its significance extends well beyond that.

An appeal is considered particularly necessary because there are apparently conflicting High Court decisions on the extent of the constitutional rights of the “unborn”.