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Northern Irish woman launches legal bid to overturn abortion ban Northern Irish woman launches legal bid to overturn abortion ban
(35 minutes later)
A Northern Irish woman who travelled to England to have an abortion is launching a court challenge to the almost total ban on terminations in the region’s hospitals.A Northern Irish woman who travelled to England to have an abortion is launching a court challenge to the almost total ban on terminations in the region’s hospitals.
Sarah Ewart’s legal bid to overturn the abortion ban is backed by the Northern Ireland human rights commission.Sarah Ewart’s legal bid to overturn the abortion ban is backed by the Northern Ireland human rights commission.
The commission wants abortion to be legalised Northern Ireland in cases of rape, incest or serious malformation of a foetus.The commission wants abortion to be legalised Northern Ireland in cases of rape, incest or serious malformation of a foetus.
Speaking before her case in Belfast high court, Ewart said the experience of having to go to England while 20 weeks pregnant for an abortion was “a living nightmare”. She decided to go to England for the termination in 2013 after her baby had been diagnosed with anencephaly, a condition in which the brain has not developed.Speaking before her case in Belfast high court, Ewart said the experience of having to go to England while 20 weeks pregnant for an abortion was “a living nightmare”. She decided to go to England for the termination in 2013 after her baby had been diagnosed with anencephaly, a condition in which the brain has not developed.
Ewart said: “I am an ordinary woman who suffered a very personal family tragedy, which the law in Northern Ireland turned into a living nightmare. I was told that my baby was likely to die before being born or shortly afterwards. All I kept thinking was, ‘Our baby has no brain, she cannot live’. Ewart said: “I am an ordinary woman who suffered a very personal family tragedy, which the law in Northern Ireland turned into a living nightmare. I was told that my baby was likely to die before being born or shortly afterwards. All I kept thinking was, ‘Our baby has no brain, she cannot liv.’
“I simply could not face it, but the law in Northern Ireland meant I had no option but to go to England and take myself away from the care of the doctors and midwife who knew me. I was 23 years old and totally devastated.“I simply could not face it, but the law in Northern Ireland meant I had no option but to go to England and take myself away from the care of the doctors and midwife who knew me. I was 23 years old and totally devastated.
“I and many women like me have been failed by our politicians, after they left me with no option but to go to England for medical care. Now, by their refusal to change the law, they leave me with no option but to go to the courts on my and other women’s behalf.”“I and many women like me have been failed by our politicians, after they left me with no option but to go to England for medical care. Now, by their refusal to change the law, they leave me with no option but to go to the courts on my and other women’s behalf.”
Around 2,000 women travel to English hospitals and clinics from Northern Ireland every year to have terminations. There is strong opposition to liberalising the province’s abortion laws inside the Northern Ireland assembly.Around 2,000 women travel to English hospitals and clinics from Northern Ireland every year to have terminations. There is strong opposition to liberalising the province’s abortion laws inside the Northern Ireland assembly.
Abortion is only legal in Northern Ireland if a woman’s life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent or serious damage to her mental or physical health. The 1967 Abortion Act was never extended to Northern Ireland and all the main local political parties oppose it.Abortion is only legal in Northern Ireland if a woman’s life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent or serious damage to her mental or physical health. The 1967 Abortion Act was never extended to Northern Ireland and all the main local political parties oppose it.