389 legal abortions here

In 2007/8 10 abortions were carried out in the Western Trust. In each of the other years less than five abortions were carried out in this area. Across Northern Ireland as a whole 389 abortions were carried out.

Health Minister Edwin Poots said: “Information on the reasons for the procedures is not collected currently centrally, but I have asked officials to consider how this can be introduced.”

Only in cases, usually, where the mother’s physical or mental health is severely and permanently endangered, are abortions legal in Northern Ireland.

Recently the Sentinel reported how over six thousand woman from Northern Ireland travelled to Britain to have abortions between 2006 and 2010.