‘Husband forced woman to have abortion’

A Mauritian woman who became pregnant after marrying an Irishman was forced by her “violent and abusive” husband to have the baby aborted in a Manchester clinic, the High Court was told yesterday.

Barrister Shannon Michael Haynes told the court the 30-year-old woman, who cannot be identified, was now under threat of deportation and was seeking leave to challenge the legality of a decision by the Minister for Justice to refuse her permission to remain in Ireland.

Mr Haynes, who appeared with Una O’Brien of Sinnott Solicitors, said the woman left her husband and obtained a divorce because of his abusive behaviour, which led to a breakdown of their marriage.