THE High Court in London has ruled that women from the North of Ireland are not legally entitled to free abortions in England.
The rules regarding abortion are different in the two jurisdictions, with those in the North being much more stringent than in the rest of Britain.
The case was brought in front of the High Court by a 15-year-old girl (claimant A) and her mother (claimant B) who live in the North of Ireland. Their identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
In his judgement, Mr Justice King ruled that the current situation was not discriminatory.
He ruled that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's duty to promote a comprehensive health service in England "is a duty in relation to the physical and mental health of the people of England", and that duty did not extend "to persons who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland".
The judgement was also based on the current legislation in the North which only allows abortion in very restricted circumstances.
A woman can only have a legal abortion if it can be proven her life is at risk, or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.
More than 1,000 women each year travel from the North to have an abortion in other parts of Britain. Those who do travel must pay for their transport, accommodation and the cost of the procedure.
The cost to claimants A and B to travel to Manchester for the procedure was in the region of £1,200, although half was paid by the Abortion Support Network which helps women from the North and the Republic to travel to England to access legal and safe abortions.
The claimants’ solicitor, Angela Jackman, said that having to raise £600 “was extremely harrowing for them”. The claimants along with their legal team are considering an appeal.
See More: Abortion, Nhs, Northern Ireland
