26 pregnancies terminated in Ireland last year

It has been revealed that 26 terminations of pregnancy were carried out in Ireland last year.

Three of the cases were of women who were shown to be at risk of suicide as a result of their pregnancy.

The other twenty-three cases were related to the woman's health such as physical illnesses and emergency situations.

The figures are contained in a report on the operation for a full year of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act being laid before the Oireachtas by Health Minister Leo Varadkar this afternoon.

“Abortion is illegal in Ireland except where there is a threat to the life of the mother. In these circumstances, it is a matter for the patient and her doctors.

"For this reason and to protect privacy and confidentiality, the information being released today is limited to that required by the Act,” Minister Varadkar said.

The Pro Life Campaign said the loss of even one child’s life from abortion is an immense human tragedy.

Their Deputy Chairperson, Cora Sherlock, said there was no evidence that abortion was a treatment for suicidal intentions.