Almost 200 women and girls travelled to Britain for abortions last year despite travel restrictions during the pandemic, the latest figures show. The data, published on Wednesday by the British department of health and social care, show 194 abortions were performed for women or girls who gave addresses in the Republic of Ireland, with a further 371 for women and girls from Northern Ireland, in 2020. In contrast the proportion of abortions performed on the grounds of fatal foetal abnormality increased to 32 per cent last year (62 abortions), from 17 per cent in 2019. PandemicNiall Behan, IFPA chief executive said the British figures showed “a clear unmet need for abortion care in Ireland”. “As society looks forward to once more taking the right to travel for granted, we can’t forget those on whom travel for abortion care is imposed by the law.

Source: The Irish Times June 10, 2021 13:24 UTC