Pro-life campaigners have spoken of their "heartbreak" after the British government laid out its plans which they claim will allow abortion up to the moment of birth for some children with disabilities.
The new measures, which campaigners describe as “extreme”, will come into force in the north on March 31.
Campaign group Both Lives Matter claim the new regulations will allow abortion for any reason for up yo 12 weeks, and up to 24 weeks for “undefined mental or physical reasons”.
They also claim the new laws will allow “abortion for disability up to birth”.
The new regulations come after a law change last October following a private members bill at Westminster which decriminalised abortion in the north.
Currently abortions can only be carried out in limited circumstances.
Both Lives Matter spokeswoman Dawn McAvoy claimed there has never been support for abortion provision in the north.
“We are heartbroken but will do all we can to continue to ensure the dignity and respect due to women and their unborn children is one day restored,” she said.
“No polling ever done in Northern Ireland has ever showed support for the 1967 Act - nobody has asked for this.
“It is more important than ever before that those of us who recognise and value both lives in every pregnancy, offer better than abortion.”
In a letter to Secretary of State Brandon Lewis earlier this month Catholic bishops in the north said “the Westminster government removed protections to the life of the unborn child with chilling alacrity.
“The imposition of such draconian and unjust legislation ensures that the issue will never cease to be contentious,” they added.
Emma Campbell Co-Convenor, with Alliance for Choice(AFC) welcomed the latest development adding that those seeking abortions should not have to travel to clinics in light of the Covid-19 crisis.
“We should not place women and pregnant people at risk of unsafe abortion when there is a scientific, safe and readily available alternative,” she said.
“At AFC we have heard directly that barriers and lack of access to abortion pills has led many to use dangerous alternatives.
“This is not a reality we wish to revisit when there is a body of scientific research that supports abortion telemedicine provision.”
