Irish Supreme Court clears path for abortion referendum by ruling unborn children only have right to life
Vote faced delays if foetuses afforded more protections
Harriet Agerholm
March 7, 2018
Ireland’s highest court has ruled protections for an unborn child offered under the state’s constitution do not extend beyond the right to life. The landmark decision, which was approved unanimously by seven senior judges, clears a path for a referendum on abortion in the summer.
A High Court previously ruled an unborn child was entitled to the same constitutional protections as a child.