Northern Ireland's record abortion figures shock
Friday, 2 January 2009
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A record number of women from Northern Ireland are opting to go to England and Wales to terminate a pregnancy, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
Figures released by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey show that there were 1,343 abortions carried out in England and Wales where the woman gave a home address in Northern Ireland in 2007 — the majority of which would be regarded as illegal here.
According to the Department of Health statistics, 6,400 abortions were performed on women from Northern Ireland in hospitals in England and Wales between 2003 and 2007.
The latest figure was a rise of 48 on that for the overall 2006 tally while 179 more women went for abortions in 2007 compared to 2005.
However, it is feared that the number of women being forced to leave Northern Ireland for a termination is actually much higher as the figures do not include numbers of women travelling to Scotland or further afield for an abortion.
While abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland, it can be carried out when a pregnancy causes a severe risk to the life of the mother and Mr McGimpsey has revealed that 99 such abortions were performed on women in Northern Ireland hospitals in 2007 — a rise of 36% from 2003.
The figures prompted a leading pro-life organisation to today call for the circumstances behind the terminations in Northern Ireland hospitals to be opened to public scrutiny.
Precious Life also said that the doctors who performed the 99 abortions in 2007 must be challenged about the legality of their actions and also called for police investigations into any believed to have been carried out illegally.
Director of the pro-life charity, Bernie Smyth, said: “These figures raise all sorts of further questions and we will be working to establish the answers in the New Year. A termination is illegal unless the life of the mother is at risk and there is a question as to whether these abortions were legal or illegal.
“It is a serious offence to take the life of an unborn child. We want to know why each and every one of these 99 abortions were carried out. I have been given information by someone with inside knowledge who said that an abortion was carried out at a hospital in Northern Ireland because the child was disabled.
“We want to know what happened to the bodies of these babies and whether death certificates were issued. If any of the abortions were illegal, the medical staff involved must be questioned by police and charged.”
The right of women in Northern Ireland to have a termination remains a controversial subject which threatened to collapse the Assembly earlier this year as a number of MPs from the mainland tabled a Parliamentary motion to bring legislation governing abortions in Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.
Diane Abbott, one of the MPs who has campaigned to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland, said the figures released by Mr McGimpsey show there is a need for women to be able to access the same level of healthcare in Northern Ireland as the rest of the UK.
“The number of abortions and the number of women travelling from Northern Ireland to the British mainland for abortions continue to rise,” she said.
“This gives the lie to the claim by some politicians in the province that there is no demand for safe and legal abortion in Northern Ireland.
“In particular, I believe that women who travel from Northern Ireland to the British mainland for an abortion should not have to pay for the abortion. It is long overdue that this manifest unfairness was ended.”
Alliance MLA Anna Lo, a pro-choice campaigner, also said that the issue of legalising abortion in Northern Ireland is a matter of equality.
“Women who travel abroad for abortions are having to pay about £2,000 on top of travel and accommodation expenses so this is also a class, economic and social issue, and there are some women who can’t afford this option and go on to the internet to get tablets which cause a pregnancy to terminate, which can lead to medical complications,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Audrey Simpson, director of the Family Planning Association in Northern Ireland, said the figures prove there is a need for a Northern Ireland-based service whereby women can undergo an abortion without stigma or judgement.
“This highlights that fact that women in Northern Ireland will at certain stages in their life need to have an abortion and these women should be treated with respect and compassion,” she said.
“Politicians must recognise that women in Northern Ireland will always need abortions and they should fulfil their statutory obligation by legislating for easier access to abortions in Northern Ireland.”
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just wondering who wrote this article for reference purposes?
Posted by charlotte | 06.05.09, 19:53 GMT
It is about time that women in NI had access to safe and legal abortions on the NHS. Women need the support in NI now - they shouldn't have to travel and they shouldn't have to pay.
Posted by Pro-Choice and Proud | 02.02.09, 17:22 GMT
"Also a foetus is not a baby or a child it is a potential human. In early pregancy it hasn't even developed most of it's organs or even arms and legs. If thats your definition of a baby then you need to read a few science books. " I disagree. The defininition of a baby is what God has chosen a baby to be and how He and no one else decided it will develop inside the womb - from a few cells onwards. It is a baby from the first moment of conception. It never develops into a dog or a pig or a tree, but only into a human being! Abortion denies a human this life and a chance at eternal life too. It is dreadful that most westerners now lead promiscuous lives, think sex is an appetite like eating & that there is no need to control their urges. It is not a baby's fault if its parents did not consider the timing or their finances or other excuses beforehand! Women, learn about "Napro" & respect yourselves, your partner, and your children!
Posted by Marcella Carmen | 10.01.09, 18:38 GMT
I think it is terrible that women in Northern Ireland are not entitled to the same reproductive rights as women in the rest of the Uk and many other parts of the world. Also a foetus is not a baby or a child it is a potential human. In early pregancy it hasn't even developed most of it's organs or even arms and legs. If thats your definition of a baby then you need to read a few science books. I think a lot of the reason why opinion is so anti abortion in Northern Ireland is the way people are taught there at school that it is murder and portray it as this brutal killing of an unborn child. I doubt however they also look at the effects of brining an unwanted child into the world on both a child and a mother. I doubt whether it is good for any child to be brought up in an environment in which it's basic needs can harly be met because the mother wasn't mentally or finacially able to have a baby. Since when did a foetus have more rights than a woman? Stop being so narrow minded!!
Posted by Rachel | 07.01.09, 00:30 GMT
I was one of those people who thought that I would never have an abortion and that it was a sin to even contemplate it!! However, I found myself in a situation that I could never have imagined in a million years and ended up pregnant - I won't go into detail but the only way I could remain mentally stable was to have an abortion at 10 weeks. There is not a single day that goes by when I don't think about how things could have turned out if I had had the baby - to be honest I probably would have gone into a mental institution as I was so depressed. I kept a diary of how I felt at the time and when I sometimes question myself on whether I did the right thing or not I look at it and don't regret my extremely difficult and emotional decision.
Some of you will probably read this and think how could you have but I can honestly say from my experience that until you're in a situation you can't say 100% what you would do.
Posted by Christine | 05.01.09, 13:35 GMT
Since when does a woman need to kill her child to be equal? Men don't get to kill their children, born or otherwise. This equality argument makes no sense. Abortion has certainly not made women in the US any more equal than they already were and has actually made undermined women's happiness and well-being.
Posted by Katie | 03.01.09, 16:16 GMT
abortion is the murder of children by selfish women who want the pleasures of sex but not the responsibilities'
Posted by brian | 02.01.09, 21:36 GMT
"A woman's right to choose" to kill her pre-born child! Where did woman get such a right? Probably from the Family Planning Association and their counterparts who profit from it. It certainly was not from God. The time for women to choose is before conception - choose to respect their bodies and demand respect from their men friends. Life is too precious and women deserve better.
Posted by W Collins | 02.01.09, 20:00 GMT
The sanitised language of the pro-death lobby is obnoxious in the extreme.
Posted by darrmont | 02.01.09, 19:07 GMT
people should learn that they have no right to destroy the life of an unborn child.
Posted by JK | 02.01.09, 16:59 GMT
Equality is still a dream for the unborn children of the UK
Posted by JK | 02.01.09, 16:54 GMT
It amazes me that people who scream shout about America or Israel being 'baby killers' during war yet go and kill their own baby without so much as a second thought.
God is judging the whole world for this and many other sins, but at least one good thing about the North and the South is that we haven't bowed to this leagalising of the murder of unborn children. I saw an ultrascan movie of an abortion being actually performed and you can see the little baby knows there is danger in the womb and tries to get away and even its little mouth opens in a silent scream. God help us.
Posted by David | 02.01.09, 16:18 GMT
I agree with MLA Anna Lo that the issue of legalising abortion in Northern Ireland is a matter of equality.
Peter Robinson will fight for parity of pay for civil servants in his selective pursuit of equality. When it comes to equality of medical services he allows his own personal religious beliefs dictate what services will or will not be available to desperate women in this provence. He is not alone the same can be said for most of the assembled men.
Meanwhile the backbone of our society that are the daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and grandmothers continue to make plans tell required lies and find the money to terminate pregnancies that for one reason or another would devastate them. Equality is still a dream for Northern Irelands women.
Posted by Pro equality | 02.01.09, 13:04 GMT
children having children and women having unwanted children is NEVER a good thing. people should learn they have no right to dictate what a woman can and cant do with/to her body, you wouldnt try and tell someone what they can and cant do with their life, so why do people think they have charge over any womans womb?
Posted by scarlett | 02.01.09, 12:49 GMT
If equality is the key factor. Why not give the unborn child in the mainland UK an equal opportunity at life as they have in NI.
Posted by JK | 02.01.09, 11:40 GMT
I understand that life is precious, however there are some circumstances when a woman does not feel she can go through with a pregnancy and should be able to choose whether she can end it. I think forcing them to continue an unwanted pregnancy can lead to family problems, mental problems, financial hardship, etc. Its very easy for people in the Precious Life group to say - sure dont have an abortion - just give your child up for adoption. Its not that simple - and it doesnt solve all problems.
I think its time for Northern Ireland women to have the same facilities open to them as women in other parts of the UK.
Posted by Anon | 02.01.09, 10:04 GMT