Abortion ship heads for Cork

The Dutch abortion ship which docked in Dublin last week is today setting sail for Cork.

The Women on Waves organisation have been unable to carry out abortions off shore because it failed to get the Dutch certification necessary to do so.

It had initially said it would be offering terminations aboard the converted fishing vessel, the Aurora, 12 miles off the Irish coast where our abortion regulations do not apply.

However, because they did not have a Dutch licence, they could have faced prosecution if they had proceeded with their plans.

Instead, they offered termination advice and free contraception, claiming 300 Irish women had contacted them about abortions.

Today the ship sails to Cork where it’s expected to dock tomorrow before leaving Irish shores on Monday.