Bad weather delays abortion ship's arrival

The arrival in Dublin of a Dutch medical ship with facilities for carrying out on-board abortions has been postponed due to bad weather, said a spokeswoman for the organisers.

The Aurora - also called the Sea of Change - set sail from a Dutch port on Monday but may now not arrive until tomorrow.

When it arrives, it will sail into controversy with pro-life activists planning protests against its plans to offer contraceptives, family planning information and ‘‘safe, legal abortions’’ outside Irish territorial waters ‘‘where medically appropriate’’.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that staff from the Amsterdam-based Women on Waves Foundation could face four and a half years in prison and a hefty fine if they administer the abortion pill to pregnant women.

The Aurora is due to dock at Dublin’s Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and it is reported the crew may be issued with bullet-proof vests to protect them against possible militant anti-abortion activity.

A spokeswoman said: ‘‘The ship is now delayed because of rough seas and bad weather. The welcoming rally has been moved to Friday.’’

Although the 100ft former fishing trawler has an on-board operating theatre, the group has said it does not plan to conduct surgical operations and instead may administer the abortion pill RU486 while more than 12 miles off the Irish coast.

It is later due to visit Cork and other Irish ports.

Health Minister Michael Martin has condemned the ship as a ‘‘publicity stunt’’ and insisted it would be bound by Irish law while in Irish waters.

Human Life International (Ireland) yesterday said it was launching a rival ‘‘life’’ boat.

Director Patrick McCrystal said: ‘‘We have commissioned a lifeboat to sail and offer a life alternative to women instead of death.

‘‘We are offering practical pregnancy counselling on our boat, priestly spiritual assistance on board and guaranteed practical help and support during and after a woman’s pregnancy.’’

Bishop Michael Cox, head of the Latin Tridentine Church in Ireland, said he plans to sail his own ex-trawler, the Little Bishop, into the path of the Aurora as it approaches Cork harbour and called for ‘‘an Armada of ships’’ to join him.

In a landmark ruling in 1992, the Supreme Court upheld the right of a raped 14-year-old threatening to commit suicide to have an abortion, and in a referendum that year voters decided to reject plans to ban abortions for women threatening suicide.