Supreme Court says NI abortion laws 'incompatible' with human rights

By The Newsroom
Published 7th Jun 2018, 12:50 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 12:56 BST
The UK Government has come under fresh pressure to act after judges on the Supreme Court said Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws are incompatible with human rights legislation and need "radical reconsideration".

A majority of a seven-strong panel of Supreme Court justices ruled the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) had no legal standing to bring its challenge against the abortion law.

But, by a majority, the judges also strongly expressed their opinion that the current laws are incompatible with article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right for respect for private and family life.

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Deputy Supreme Court president Lord Mance said the present law "clearly needs radical reconsideration" and that the opinion of the court - while not legally binding - "cannot safely be ignored".