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Original poster

Did anyone see this story about the pregnant 17yo in Ireland?

38 replies

TheArmadillo · 04/05/2007 21:52

She is 4 months pregnant but scans have shown that the foetus is suffering from anencephaly and drs say it is not going to survive more than a few days after birth

She was refused an abortion in IReland on the basis her health would not suffer and she was not found to be suicidal.

She has just been told that the police cannot stop her from leaving the country to get an abortion. Before this she was told she would be prevented from leaving and would have to carry till full term. However the case still continues so she still may not be able to travel.

This must be a horrible situation for her to be in. SUrely it should be her choice. Yes they don't allow abortions on the grounds of foetal abnormality but surely she should be free to travel to another country in order to get it done.

Poor girl. IT must be a terribly hard descision to make without it going to court

IRish police cannot stop girl leaving for abortion

OP posts:
GiantSquirrelSpotter · 04/05/2007 21:57

Yes heard this on Wednesday and was wondering what the outcome would be.

Original poster
TheArmadillo · 04/05/2007 21:58

surely the longer it goes on the harder it will be whatever the outcome. Even if they decide she can travel abroad the procedure will be more invasive and traumatic.

I really feel for this girl.

OP posts:
GiantSquirrelSpotter · 04/05/2007 21:59

It is so shocking when such cases are reported. Really brings the barbarism of the state controlling women's bodies home.

Carmenere · 04/05/2007 22:00

SadAngrySad

AitchTwoOh · 04/05/2007 22:01

how awful.

Blu · 04/05/2007 22:03

The state is preventing a woman from buying a ferry or plane ticket and travelling out of the country like any citizen with a passport can do?

Shame!

tombley · 04/05/2007 22:07

The Times reported that she was in the care of the Local Authority before her pregnancy and therefore to have the means to travel to UK for a termination the Local Authority would have to fund flights accommodation and expenses. It seems that if she had someone to pay for her to travel she would not be prevented from leaving.
Poor girl.

Blu · 04/05/2007 22:09

ah - complicated.
But no less senseless.
Poor, poor girl.

mummytosteven · 04/05/2007 22:09

dreadful, I didn't realise that the Irish laws were that restrictive on terminations.

Original poster
TheArmadillo · 04/05/2007 22:12

here says she is in care
So maybe that means that they can prevent her from getting a passport as she is under 18?

ITs horrible.

quote from here
"Berry Kiely, of the Pro-Life Campaign, said: "Every unborn child has a unique worth and dignity and is entitled to protection."

BUt surely this girl also deserves protection and dignity. This child will not survive for more than 3 days max. The mother will have to live with the traumatic experience of giving birth and then watching her child die. Surely she deserves some protection from that and have to carry a baby for the next few months knowing that this will happen?

OP posts:
tombley · 04/05/2007 22:12

I think, like Local Authorities over here they are not able to provide her with funds to commit a criminal(?) offence. This would be presumably Aiding and Abetting and leave them open to prosecution?? Not sure all this is accurate but that's the impression I got from The Times. Very sad for the young girl involved.

Original poster
TheArmadillo · 04/05/2007 22:13

x-posted.

If someone was to offer to pay for her travel would they still stop her?

OP posts:
GiantSquirrelSpotter · 04/05/2007 22:15

But they are not technically providing her with money to commit a criminal offence. They are giving her the money to go on holiday.

It's up to them and a court how they interpret it. And if they're too cowardly to risk court in a case like this, shame on them.

tombley · 04/05/2007 22:18

Not sure as they must still be in Loco Parentis and therefore responsible for allowing or preventing her to commit an offence. I know nothing about Irish Law but based on LA responsibilities here and our how safe things are played these days I guess they are encouraging her to challenge this through the courts to allow her to get this termination legally.

percypig · 04/05/2007 22:22

I'm pro-life, but agree this case is very sad, and I feel really sorry for the girl. She could get to the UK quite easily without a passport - train to Belfast, boat to Scotland. She may not realise though, and given the court case and media interest (it's been quie a big story here in the north for a while), I would imagine she's being watched closely.

multitasker · 04/05/2007 22:22

Its times like this when I despair of being Irish. Unfortunately this sort of legislation dates back to a time - not so long ago when the church had an enormous amount of control over all things relating to the family - hence the pro-life speel.
Nothing much has really changed for women here for decades - the idea that an unborn unable to survive foetus is of superior worth than the young girl concerned is just depressing.

stleger · 04/05/2007 22:45

It looks likely she will be allowed to travel - nobody seems to have a legal right to prevent her going. The HSE is being very vigilant in doing the right thing - following a murder/suicide in a family 2 weeks ago which social workers have been accused in the media of being negligent in. The abortion issue blows up every few years when a really 'hard' case arises. Poor baby and poor girl.

ScummyMummy · 04/05/2007 22:55

I was livid when I heard this on the radio this morning. It seems so very cruel that anyone could think of forcing a distraught young woman to carry a baby who will certainly die to term. I really hope a solution will be found soon.

Mhamai · 04/05/2007 22:56

I could be wrong but I'm sure I read in yesterday's Herald that she has been given leave to travel.

ScummyMummy · 04/05/2007 23:05

That's good news, mhamai.

chipmonkey · 04/05/2007 23:30

Yes, she has been given leave to travel, provided her mother agrees. I think the issue was more that she was in the care of the HSE and that they are responsible for her. Poor girl.

StyleCouncil · 04/05/2007 23:30

NO Mhamai - its back in the High Court again on Tuesday but they are expecting the HSE to go to the District Court over the weekend to give up their rights to her. She is under their care under an interim care order. Just to point out that Abortion in Ireland is illegal unless the mother is suicidal - mother and the undborn have equal rights to life. Its time for another referendum methinks.

nappyaddict · 04/05/2007 23:36

i don't really agree with abortion but this is one condition where if i was put in that position i think i would have an abortion.

chipmonkey · 04/05/2007 23:36

What? Oh fgs, it's getting to be a right old circus now!

GiantSquirrelSpotter · 04/05/2007 23:37

Isn't it though?

What a disgraceful spectacle.

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