Of my clients from Northern Ireland, a mother and daughter known as A and B. When A became pregnant at the age of 15, in very distressing circumstances, she was unable to access an abortion in Northern Ireland. MZ’s case is being urgently considered in Strasbourg alongside an anonymous Northern Irish case, also involving an abusive man. One of his teenage children, known as SV, is seeking the right to apply to have his father’s parental responsibility removed. However, in Northern Ireland, as in England, the law prevents this: SV is permanently barred from applying to sever the tie with his abusive father.

Source: The Irish Times March 13, 2026 10:32 UTC