Northern Ireland awaits landmark abortion ruling

LONDON: Britain's Supreme Court will nowadays rule whether or not Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws infringe European human rights legislation, doubtlessly checking out the strength of Prime Minister Theresa May's minority govt.

The seven Supreme Court justices will rule on a case brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), which argues that the present regulation criminalises "exceptionally vulnerable" women.

The devolved govt in the British province is accountable for deciding abortion laws, but Westminster can step in if legislation is deemed to contravene the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Unlike in mainland Britain, abortion is against the law in Northern Ireland, carrying a potential lifestyles sentence, excluding when a girl's lifestyles is in peril or there is a permanent or serious threat to her mental or physical health.

The NIHRC argued in October 2017 that the present regulation subjects women to "inhuman and degrading" remedy, causing "physical and mental torture" as it bans abortion in instances of rape, incest or serious foetal anomaly.

If the Supreme Court has the same opinion, it will be up to London and Belfast to be able to deliver Northern Ireland into line with the ruling, setting May on a collision route with the anti-abortion Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The DUP is the most important birthday party in Northern Ireland and also props up May's minority govt, giving her the votes she must get Brexit legislation in the course of the House of Commons.

Adding to the complication, Northern Ireland has been not able to form a power-sharing govt for over a 12 months, meaning responsibility may fall on Westminster to unilaterally change national regulation.

MPs debated the issue on Tuesday, with Labour MP Stella Creasy calling for a nationwide regulation change.

Northern Ireland minister Karen Bradley insisted that abortion used to be "a matter for the people of Northern Ireland".

DUP assembly member Jim Wells on Tuesday when put next abortion programmes to "the Nazis", highlighting the issues May will have to find an answer with the birthday party.

The devolved Northern Ireland Assembly voted in February 2016 against legalising abortion in instances of deadly foetal abnormality, rape or incest.

But the case for change has gained contemporary impetus from the Republic of Ireland's landmark referendum vote to legalise abortion final month.

More than 66 p.c of electorate backed repealing the constitutional ban on terminations, raising force on its neighbour to follow suit.

Sinn Fein and the SDLP, the 2 major parties representing Northern Ireland's Irish Catholics, and the cross-community Alliance Party, again overturning the ban.

Belfast's High Court ruled in December 2015 that the regulation used to be incompatible with article eight of the ECHR -- the proper to recognize for private and family lifestyles -- because of the absence of exceptions in instances of deadly foetal abnormalities and pregnancies as a consequence of sexual offences.

But three of Northern Ireland's most senior judges overturned that call in June final 12 months, pronouncing it used to be a query for the elected assembly, not the courts.