Irish abortion law test case

Ireland’s new abortion law’s first test case has seen a rape victim denied an abortion, then her baby delivered by Caesarean section at 25 weeks, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

It is the first example of suicide being cited as grounds for the termination of a pregnancy under the 2013 law.

The unnamed woman has been described as a rape victim who had travelled to Ireland and requested an abortion at eight weeks.

However, there was a delay between when the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) dealt with her case and when she later went to a GP at 22 weeks seeking an abortion on grounds of suicide risk.

Two psychiatrists on the three-member expert panel assessing her case acceded to her request but the third member of the panel, an obstetrician, argued that the baby should be delivered by Caesarean section.