Legal challenge to NI abortion law begins

Pro-life campaigners are challenging the UK Government's bid to establish abortion services across Northern Ireland.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (Spuc) believes NI politicians should make decisions about abortion - a devolved issue.

Its case is being heard by Court of Appeal judges in Belfast today and tomorrow, with a judgment expected early next year.

A previous challenge was rejected by NI's High Court, which ruled that it is "only parliament" that can override past decisions.

Abortion was legalised in NI in 2019 through a controversial amendment to Westminster regulations passed whilst power-sharing had collapsed.

After power sharing resumed, politicians remained at loggerheads with Health Minister Robin Swann refusing to commission abortion services.

In 2021, then Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis issued new regulations giving his department power to override NI Ministers.

Commenting on the Court of Appeal proceedings this week, Liam Gibson, Spuc's policy and legal officer, said:

"We believe that when Brandon Lewis issued the 2021 Abortion Regulations giving himself the power to direct the actions of Stormont ministers to disregard the terms of the Ministerial Code and the devolution agreement he exceeded his legal authority," he said.

"Although the High Court did not agree with our case, we believe that both the health department and the Northern Ireland Office have recognised that the 2021 regulations and the Secretary of State's subsequent directions are, at the very least, highly questionable."

"We're confident that we can convince the Court of Appeal that we're right", he added.