An Irish teenager expecting a baby who is certain to die shortly after birth started a court battle yesterday to have an abortion in Britain.
The 17-year- old, who is four months pregnant, is fighting moves by health chiefs in Ireland to prevent her from leaving the country.
Irish law outlaws abortion unless there is a real risk to the life of the mother, including suicide.
However, women are normally allowed to travel to Britain to terminate their pregnancy.
The baby in this case has anencephaly, and will die within a few days of birth. This is exactly the sort of case that makes a mockery of a lot of strict party line positions. The girl has the support of family, she isn't desperate or maltreated, she just doesn't want to spend nine months carrying a baby just to see it die.
Jay