Alison O'Connor: US experience is a warning to pay attention to Ireland's abortion law review

Now that the three-year review provided for in the 2018 Act is under way, Irish women need to be aware that rights they have won can be threatened, as is happening in the United States

In a remarkable turnaround, abortion rights campaigners have protested in Dublin against moves to restrict access to abortion in the US. Irish women ought to bear in mind that the law governing their own rights are under review at the moment.

IF you are a citizen of the US state of Texas you are free to bring a lawsuit against anyone — friend, taxi driver, doctor — who “aids or abets” a woman there in getting an abortion. If your suit is successful you win a jackpot of $10,000 plus any legal fees incurred.

This now applies to an abortion taking place after a foetal heartbeat has been detected, something that occurs around six weeks.