Gardaí played down warnings from HSE over safe access zones for abortion services

Anti-abortion campaigners protest outside the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins

Gardaí played down repeated warnings from the HSE that a lack of safe access zones was stopping GPs from signing up to provide abortion services, new documents reveal.

In fact, Garda representatives claimed that introducing laws to ensure those accessing termination of pregnancy services were not intimidated outside healthcare facilities could "add fuel to the fire".