Abortion guidelines row hits Medical Council

Divisions have emerged in the Irish Medical Council over new guidelines to perform abortions here in certain circumstances.

As the docking of the Dutch abortion ship which was due in Dublin today was suspended until tomorrow, the council passed two motions to carry out terminations where there is a real and substantive risk to the life of the mother.

A small majority of the council also voted at a previous meeting in favour of allowing doctors to terminate a foetus where the brain has not fully developed.

However, anti-abortion members of the council have indicated they may pursue the matter in the courts by means of a judicial review.

Meanwhile, Dutch authorities have threatened to prosecute when the Aurora returns to the Netherlands if the crew perform abortions in international waters.

The Netherlands has not granted the vessel a licence to carry out such operations.