Eight abortions carried out in NI hospitals last year

The figures have been released by the Department of Health

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Published 22nd Jan 2020

The figures were published by the Department of Health just months before changes to the region's law around abortion will take effect.

The total is four fewer than the previous year.

Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland last October following legislation passed by Westminster.

Terminations will become more widely available from April.

Previously, abortion was only allowed in Northern Ireland if a woman's life was at risk or there was a danger of permanent and serious damage to her physical or mental health.

The change has been criticised by anti-abortion campaigners, who have staged several large demonstrations against it.

Pro-choice campaigners have also held rallies.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland campaigns manager, described the law change as necessary''.

She said 1,050 women travelled from Northern Ireland to England to have abortions in 2018, while a further unknown number accessed abortion pills online.

She added, “This demonstrates just how necessary our new law is. Soon, those who need a termination will have their choices treated with dignity and respect at home.”

“All eyes are now on the Northern Ireland Secretary of State to ensure regulations and a swift transition to services that respect rights, choice and are fully accessible.''

Meanwhile, Bernadette Smyth, head of Pro-Life group Precious Life said, “The statistics reveal a catastrophic failure of the Northern Ireland government, and society, when their response to women in unplanned pregnancies is to offer the death of their unborn children.”

She continued, “It is very clear that women are being badly let down by our Government. The absence of a functioning government for almost three years and the failure to provide life-affirming alternatives for women has created a dire and hopeless situation for mothers and unborn babies in Northern Ireland.