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Irish teen in court abortion plea Irish teen in court abortion plea
(about 1 hour later)
A 17-year-old pregnant Irish girl is going to the High Court in Dublin to press for the right to travel to Britain for an abortion. A 17-year-old pregnant Irish girl is appearing in the High Court in Dublin to press for the right to travel to Britain for an abortion.
Doctors have told the girl that her four-month foetus will not live more than a few days beyond birth.Doctors have told the girl that her four-month foetus will not live more than a few days beyond birth.
She is in the care of Ireland's health service which has issued an order stopping her from going to Britain.She is in the care of Ireland's health service which has issued an order stopping her from going to Britain.
But a lawyer for the girl argued that the health authority had no right to stop her travelling.
Eoghan Fitzsimons told the court that police had responded to a request by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to prevent her leaving the country, saying they could not and would not do so without a court order.
Abortion is illegal in Ireland except where the mother's life is threatened by a medical condition or suicide.Abortion is illegal in Ireland except where the mother's life is threatened by a medical condition or suicide.
Thousands of Irish women get around the ban by privately travelling to the UK, where abortion was legalised in 1967, to undergo terminations.Thousands of Irish women get around the ban by privately travelling to the UK, where abortion was legalised in 1967, to undergo terminations.
'Distraught''Distraught'
The teenager, known only as Miss D, comes from the Leinster region and has been under the guardianship of the Health Service Executive (HSE) - Ireland's national health service - since March. Mr Fitzsimons said it was inhumane to expect the girl to carry the foetus for the full nine months only for it to die.
No woman should have to endure the trauma of carrying to full term a child who will not live more than a few hours Pro-choice campaigner
She was deeply distressed by the diagnosis and a travel ban was tantamount to degrading treatment, he was quoted by PA as saying.
The teenager, known only as Miss D, comes from the Leinster region and has been under the guardianship of the HSE - Ireland's national health service - since March.
Even though she is in care, the girl's mother, known as Miss A, has come out in support of her daughter's wish, as has her boyfriend who launched the legal appeal on her behalf since Miss D is still a minor.Even though she is in care, the girl's mother, known as Miss A, has come out in support of her daughter's wish, as has her boyfriend who launched the legal appeal on her behalf since Miss D is still a minor.
No woman should have to endure the trauma of carrying to full term a child who will not live more than a few hours Pro-choice campaigner Miss D was informed last month that her foetus has anencephaly, a condition which means that a large part of the brain and skull is missing. Miss D was informed last month that her foetus has anencephaly, a condition which means that a large part of the brain and skull is missing.
Babies with anencephaly live a maximum of just three days after birth.Babies with anencephaly live a maximum of just three days after birth.
A psychiatrist appointed by the HSE said that the teenager was distraught at the diagnosis, but not suicidal, and therefore did not meet the criteria for being allowed a termination.A psychiatrist appointed by the HSE said that the teenager was distraught at the diagnosis, but not suicidal, and therefore did not meet the criteria for being allowed a termination.
Protest rallyProtest rally
Lawyers acting on behalf of Miss D in the landmark case will argue that the HSE and police do not have the power to stop someone leaving the country even if they are the subject of an interim care order and that the court order which placed her in the HSE's care carried no restrictions on her travelling. Both sides in the case have agreed that the case be rushed through the court system as soon as possible.
Both sides have agreed that the case be rushed through the court system as soon as possible. Pro-choice groups Choice Ireland and Alliance for Choice were planning a rally outside the court to show support for the teenager.
Pro-choice groups Choice Ireland and Alliance for Choice are planning a rally outside the court to show support for the teenager.
"No woman should have to endure the trauma of carrying to full term a child who will not live more than a few hours," a spokeswoman for the groups said."No woman should have to endure the trauma of carrying to full term a child who will not live more than a few hours," a spokeswoman for the groups said.
"Miss D is another case of several that have gone before and will come again that highlight the flaws in Irish abortion law. Without legislation to deal with this issue, yet more Irish women in difficult situations will have to be dragged through the courts," she added."Miss D is another case of several that have gone before and will come again that highlight the flaws in Irish abortion law. Without legislation to deal with this issue, yet more Irish women in difficult situations will have to be dragged through the courts," she added.