First termination under new abortion laws carried out on woman expecting twins

The first termination of a pregnancy, under the terms of the new abortion legislation, has been carried out.

The Irish Times has said the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street carried out the abortion on a woman who was 18 weeks pregnant with twins, because there was a "real and substantial" risk to her life and because her pregnancy was no longer considered viable.

There was a foetal heartbeat present.

The case is similar to that of Savita Halapannavar, as the woman has begun to show signs of sepsis.