N. Ireland – Mum who bought abortion pills for daughter acquitted after landmark law reform

Mum who bought abortion pills for daughter acquitted after landmark law reform

Zoe Drewett
Wednesday 23 Oct 2019

A mother who has faced prosecution for six years for buying online abortion pills for her teenage daughter has been formally acquitted after landmark reform in Northern Ireland.

A judge directed a jury at Belfast Crown Court today to find the woman not guilty. The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been facing two counts of procuring and supplying the abortion drugs with the intent to procure a miscarriage, contrary to the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act.

Continued: https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/23/mum-bought-abortion-pills-daughter-acquitted-landmark-law-reform-10968698/

23.10.2019

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1861 Offences against the Person Act

abortion law reform

David McFarland

Democratic Unionist Party

Jemma Conlon

prosecuting women for abortion

Woman in Northern Ireland abortion pills case formally acquitted

Woman in Northern Ireland abortion pills case formally acquitted
Judge instructs jury to find woman not guilty after legal changes come into force

Rory Carroll, Ireland correspondent
Wed 23 Oct 2019

A court in Northern Ireland has acquitted a woman who was prosecuted for buying online abortion pills for her daughter, after the decriminalisation of abortion in the region.

The judge, David McFarland, directed a jury at Belfast crown court on Wednesday to find the woman not guilty a day after Northern Ireland’s Victorian-era abortion laws were liberalised. The prosecution offered no evidence.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/23/woman-northern-ireland-abortion-pills-case-formally-acquitted-legal-reforms

She helped her 15 year old get an abortion. Now she’s facing charges in Northern Ireland

She helped her 15 year old get an abortion. Now she's facing charges in Northern Ireland

By Haley Ott
June 26, 2019

London -- A woman is facing criminal charges in Northern Ireland for getting her 15-year-old daughter abortion pills to end an unwanted pregnancy in 2013. The woman's lawyer says the police were alerted after the daughter, who was in an abusive relationship, told a therapist she had taken the pills. The woman's legal team is challenging the prosecution.

Abortion is against the law in Northern Ireland except when a pregnant woman's health is at risk of permanent harm. There are no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Women who have illegal abortions can face up to life in prison if caught, and medical professionals are required to report anyone who has had one to the authorities.

Continued: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/abortion-northern-ireland-mother-of-15-year-old-facing-criminal-charges/

N. Ireland – Girl ‘taken from classroom to be questioned by police over abortion pills’

Girl ‘taken from classroom to be questioned by police over abortion pills’
The teenager’s mother is taking a judicial review against the decision to charge her for procuring the medication online.

November 6 2018

A Northern Ireland schoolgirl whose mother is facing prosecution for buying her abortion pills was taken from a classroom by police officers and spoken to about the alleged crime without her parents being present, a court has heard.

A barrister for the mother outlined the circumstances of the case as she urged judges to rule that her looming prosecution is in contravention of human rights laws.

Continued: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/girl-taken-from-classroom-to-be-questioned-by-police-over-abortion-pills-37497844.html

Northern Ireland: woman who bought abortion pills for daughter in court to challenge prosecution

Northern Ireland: woman who bought abortion pills for daughter in court to challenge prosecution

5 Nov 2018
Amnesty International

Mother could face a criminal trial and up to 5 years in prison

‘The fear and pain of it all. I feel like I am not allowed to move on’ – mother speaks out

This is the first-time a prosecution relating to Northern Ireland’s restrictive abortion law has been challenged

Continued: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/northern-ireland-woman-who-bought-abortion-pills-daughter-court-challenge-1

Belfast court to hear landmark challenge over abortion rights

Belfast court to hear landmark challenge over abortion rights
Northern Ireland woman takes on decision to prosecute her for supplying pills to daughter

Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent
Thu 20 Sep 2018

A woman is challenging a decision to prosecute her for obtaining abortion pills for her pregnant underage daughter in a potential landmark case for abortion rights in Northern Ireland.

She will seek to overturn a decision by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland to subject her to a criminal trial and the prospect of five years in prison for supplying the pills in 2013 to her then 15-year-old daughter, who terminated the pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/20/northern-ireland-woman-challenges-prosecution-buying-abortion-pills