Northern Ireland secretary failed to comply with abortion law duties
A High Court Judge has ruled the Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, has failed to carry out his duties to provide full abortion services in the region.
Women in Northern Ireland have been struggling to access legal abortion services, nearly two years since the procedure was made legal in the country.
Mr Justice Colton said:
“The court declares that between April 2020 and March 2021, the Secretary of State failed to comply with his duties under Section 9 of the Northern Ireland Executive Formation 2019 Act, in that he failed to ensure expeditiously that the State provide women with access to high quality abortion and post abortion care in all public health facilities in Northern Ireland.”
However, he did not make an order compelling Lewis to make abortion services available under any set timetable.
The case was brought forward by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, against the Northern Ireland Executive, the Department of Health and the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis for an “abdication of legal responsibility”.
Abortion powers is devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont.
