Nearly 200 Irishwomen travelled to UK for abortion last year

194 women from Ireland accessed abortion services in the UK in 2020, down from 375 in 2019 and a 93% decrease from the 2,879 who travelled for services in 2018.

The number of women travelling to the UK for an abortion continues to fall but the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) said those who made the journey last year, did so, despite Covid risks, because the laws here were still too restrictive.

New figures released by the Department of Health in the UK showed 194 women from Ireland accessed abortion services on the other side of the channel in 2020, down from 375 in 2019 and a 93% decrease from the 2,879 who travelled for services in 2018.