Pregnant Irish teen wins abortion battle

Updated 15.20 Wed May 09 2007

Keywords: Britain, Ireland, abortion, pregnant, teenager

An Irish teenager who has fought an ongoing battle to come to Britain for an abortion has been granted permission to travel by the High Court in Dublin.

The unnamed 17-year-old, known only as "Miss D" who is four months' pregnant, had previously been denied the right to leave the country by Ireland's Health Service Executive, which had the girl in its care.

The court was told that if the teenager was not in the care of the HSE and her parents supported her decision for abortion, there was nothing to stop her travelling.

The authorities pledged to call the police and stop the teenager from undergoing the operation, so the girl went to the High Court in the hope of being granted permission to travel.

The unborn child has a condition meaning a major part of the brain, scalp and skull is missing and is only expected to survive for a few days after birth.

Opening the case, Eoghan Fitzsimons SC, for Miss D, told the court that it seems "to be most inhumane" to expect her to carry her baby full term.

Mr Fitzsimons told the court that if Miss D was not in the care of the HSE and her parents supported her decision for abortion, there was nothing to stop her travelling.