Northern Ireland

Abortion services should be scrapped, Presbyterian group says

A Presbyterian group has called for the repeal of abortion legislation in Northern Ireland
A Presbyterian group has called for the repeal of abortion legislation in Northern Ireland A Presbyterian group has called for the repeal of abortion legislation in Northern Ireland

Presbyterians in south Down and south Armagh has called for the repeal of abortion legislation.

The Presbytery of Newry also expressed its "dismay and strong opposition" to abortion pills being given to women at health facilities.

Abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy has been legal in the north since last year.

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Last week, the NI Human Rights Commission launched legal action against the secretary of state and Department of Health, citing a disparity in services amongst the five health trusts.

Rev Bryan Key, moderator of the Presbytery of Newry, and Rev Stuart Finlay, its clerk, said the abortion legislation had been "imposed" by Westminster and called on politicians to lobby for it to be changed.

"Out of our concern for the unborn we call upon the political representatives in Stormont and Westminster who share our pro-life views to work for a change in the law to protect the life of the unborn and for the removal of abortion services from our communities under the direction of the health trusts," they wrote.