A TEENAGER AND her mother lost a legal challenge yesterday against a rule that prevents women from Northern Ireland from receiving free abortions in England.
Four people were arrested at a pro-choice demonstration yesterday outside Dublin’s GPO, which was organised in support of the women.
The 18-year-old from Northern Ireland, who cannot be named to protect her identity, was 15 when she travelled to England for an abortion in 2012.
She had to pay £600 for it because she was excluded from free abortion services.
Abortions are illegal in Northern Ireland except in extreme cases when a woman’s life is deemed at risk from her pregnancy.
Every year at least 1,000 Northern Irish women are estimated to seek the procedure in England, where it is legal.
Three judges upheld a previous High Court decision ruling that the teenager wasn’t entitled to a state-funded abortion in England.
A lawyer acting for the women say they plan to appeal to Britain’s Supreme Court.
“My clients did not give up last year and do not intend to give up now,” said the lawyer, Angela Jackman.
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