The circumstances that led to an 12-year-old girl getting an abortion in Britain in the past year are being investigated by the gardaí. Gardaí are now working to rule out the possibility that an adult was involved in the girl becoming pregnant, sources have confirmed. The age of consent in Ireland is 17 years and the age of criminal responsibility in cases of rape is 10. Tusla said it does not comment on individual cases to ensure the privacy and protection of the children and the families involved. However, under Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children such cases may not necessarily be regarded as child sexual abuse.

Source: The Irish Times March 18, 2018 19:30 UTC