Leave granted in challenge to abortion laws

Sarah Ewart has today been granted leave by the Northern Ireland High Court to apply for judicial review, to claim that the criminal prohibitions on abortion in Northern Ireland are incompatible with human rights. She challenges sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and section 25 of the Criminal Justice Act (NI) 1945, which criminalise abortion.

She is represented by Adam Straw, and Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law solicitors.  

Read about this case in the press here.