Northern Ireland

Long awaited report on abortion laws calls for reform

Sarah Ewart (left), who travelled to England for an abortion due to fatal foetal abnormality, and Grainne Teggart of Amnesty International
Sarah Ewart (left), who travelled to England for an abortion due to fatal foetal abnormality, and Grainne Teggart of Amnesty International Sarah Ewart (left), who travelled to England for an abortion due to fatal foetal abnormality, and Grainne Teggart of Amnesty International

CAMPAIGNERS who have fought to change abortion laws in Northern Ireland in cases of fatal foetal abnormality have welcomed a long-awaited report on the issue.

Amnesty International said the report released yesterday by the Department of Health and Department of Justice highlighted that existing legislation is "untenable" for health professionals.

The paper was commissioned in 2016 by the then health and justice ministers but its publication was delayed due to the absence of an executive and assembly.

Chaired by the north's most senior doctor, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride, a working group concluded that current laws place an "unacceptable burden" on women's health and wellbeing.

It recommended the law should be changed in cases where expectant mothers receive a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality.

Anti-abortion group Precious Life last night criticised the report, describing it as "renewed attack on our pro-life laws."

"The report merely presents recommendations, but has no real authority and is in absolutely no way binding on Northern Ireland," the group's Bernadette Smyth said.

"Women and babies in Northern Ireland do not need abortion. What women really need is access to holistic, life-affirming and compassionate health care that cares for both lives when faced with a difficult prenatal diagnosis."

Read more: Seanín Graham - Report on changing abortion law welcome - but no prospect of reform without executive (Premiuim)

Former ministers criticised after 18-month delay in publishing abortion report

Unlike other parts of the UK, the 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland, where abortions are illegal except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.

Women whose unborn are diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality must travel outside Northern Ireland to undergo a termination.

Proposals to relax the strict abortion laws were rejected in Stormont in 2016.

The 58-page report by the inter-departmental working group recommended "that a change is made to abortion law to provide for termination of pregnancy where the abnormality is of such a nature as to be likely to cause death either before birth, during birth or in the early period after birth".

The seven-member group defined a fatal foetal abnormality as when a diagnosis is given at around 20 weeks that there is an abnormality which will result in death in the womb, at birth or shortly after birth.

The report found that one of the most "compelling" cases for change was the recognition by health professionals that current law "prevents them from fully meeting their duty of care to all women in this situation".

"In summary, health professionals considered the current situation to be professionally untenable," it said.

The situation faced by pregnant women dealing with fatal foetal abnormality hit the headlines in 2013 when young mother Sarah Ewart went public about having to travel to England to access a termination after being told her unborn child had no chance of survival outside the womb.

The report recognised what it described as "the trauma for (a) woman of travelling away from home and family at such a difficult time, the loss of her dedicated medical team and the associated financial cost".

In a statement released through Amnesty yesterday, Ms Ewart welcomed the findings.

"I am an ordinary woman who suffered a very personal family tragedy, which the law in Northern Ireland turned into a living nightmare," she said.

"My baby was given a diagnosis of anencephaly, a fatal abnormality where the brain does not develop and there is no skull. The law here meant I had to travel to access this healthcare at a time when I needed my family, friends and the support of the medical professionals I was used to around me."

The head of the Royal College in Midwives in the north, Breedagh Hughes said it was "deeply frustrating" that an Executive was not in place to act on the recommendations.

"This report offers crumbs of comfort to women - but the reality is that nothing changes for women or health professionals who are obliged to continue working within the current constraints of the law."

Grainne Teggart, campaigns manager for Amnesty, said the findings showed that doctors want legal reform.

"Our current law is not fit for purpose for both women and those who care for them. No woman, including those whose pregnancies have been given a fatal foetal diagnosis, should be forced to board a plane to access this healthcare. "

When asked how the report would impact on current laws, the Department of Justice said it was a matter for "devolved political structures to consider and for a legislature to decide".

Read more: Seanín Graham - Report on changing abortion law welcome - but no prospect of reform without executive (Premiuim)

Former ministers criticised after 18-month delay in publishing abortion report