Strasbourg, France, Dec 17, 2010 / 00:45 am
The European Court of Human Rights ruled Dec. 16 that Ireland's abortion ban breached the rights of a woman who filed suit against Ireland after she had to leave the country in order to procure an abortion.
Pro-life groups in the U.K. decried the move and are urging Irish lawmakers to resist what they believe to be lobbying pressure to legalize abortion in the country.
The ruling comes after three women – in the case ABC vs. Ireland – filed suit against Ireland for having to travel to another country for abortions. Although the cases of the first two women were dismissed by the court, judges ruled in favor of the woman known as “C,” who had a rare form of cancer that she believed could resurface during her pregnancy.
Woman “C,” a Lithuanian who lived in Ireland, told the court that she feared that her cancer would come back if she reduced her chemotherapy treatment during her pregnancy and that the baby could be harmed if she didn't. She was unable, however, to find a doctor to substantiate these claims.