Abortion Miss D update.

"The girl at the centre of the 'Miss D' case has won her High Court battle to be allowed to travel to Britain to have an abortion.

The judge in the case said this afternoon he holds the view firmly and unequivocally that there is "no statutory or constitutional impediment" which would prevent her from going to the UK.

The 17-year-old girl is 18 weeks pregnant with a baby which has a fatal brain disorder and won't live for more than a few days following birth."

Well well well, I'm glad to see some sense prevailed at last.

Abortion update.

After two days in court the HSC has performed a U-turn.

From to days Independent

"HEALTH chiefs yesterday performed a dramatic u-turn, revealing that they would not stand in the way of a teenage girl who wants to go to England for an abortion.

Even though they moved quickly to stop the 17-year-old last month, lawyers told the High Court they were now prepared to let her travel under certain conditions.

No indication was given if and when the teenager, known only as Miss D, will apply to leave.

In the strongest signal yet that the D case could be resolved without a repeat of the public tumult that followed in the wake of the X case abortion saga, lawyers for the Health Services Executive agreed it would be in the best interests of the girl to travel to England if she received district court approval to do so.

Miss D, the 17-year old whose baby is suffering from the fatal brain condition anencephaly, was not present in court for day two of the High Court action as she is unwell.

In her absence, the HSE said it would be willing to make an application to the district court to allow Miss D to travel.

It said it would agree that travel for the purpose of a termination would be in her best interests if a district court judge was satisfied the girl had considered her decision carefully, preferably after counselling."

Okay, so they decided to be humane, next question is why are we still exporting our problems to the UK?

Abortion update.

The state has hired a barrister to represent the rights of the fetus at tomorrow's challenge by a 17-year-old pregnant girl to a HSE decision to restrain her from travelling abroad for an abortion.
The High Court has heard that this latest development was requested by the Attorney General.

Lawyers for the AG yesterday told the court that they believed the HSE had no legal power to ask the Gardai to restrain a person simply because that person is the subject of a care order.

Today, the court was also told that the mother of the 17-year-old has been granted legal aid and will also be represented in tomorrow's proceedings. Her mother will also appear to back her in this case.