DUP to set up group looking at abortion law change as it vows to oppose amendments

The party made the announcement in a statement to the News Letter on Tuesday evening, in which it also said its MLAs will oppose amendments aimed at liberalising abortion law in general in the Province, due to be discussed in the Assembly on Wednesday.

The debate Justice (No. 2) Bill – covering a range of topics from the role of a Prison Ombudsman to the rules around visiting police stations – will be discussed in the Assembly.

It comes with a large collection of proposed amendments, including eight on the subject of abortion, some of which aim to ease restrictions on abortion if the child cannot survive outside the womb, or if pregnancy was due to rape.

While opposing the amendments, the DUP said that a working group – which will include members of the medical profession – will report within six months with recommendation on how the law may be reformed.

Essentially, abortion in Northern Ireland is illegal unless the life or mental health of the mother is in danger (although many women travel to the UK mainland for abortions each year.

The law is sometimes openly challenged – such as when scores of pro-abortion demonstrators gathered outside Musgrave PSNI station in Belfast in July 2015, daring police to arrest them by claiming to have illegally bought or taken abortion drugs.

The DUP statement on Tuesday night read in full: “The DUP opposes any extension of the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland [this being the Abortion Act which lessened restrictions on abortions in England, Scotland and Wales].

“The issue of fatal foetal abnormality has proved a sensitive and controversial matter in Northern Ireland which requires proper consideration by the Executive and Assembly. We believe that this issue should best be dealt with in a measured way rather than in haste and without the benefit of appropriate scrutiny.

“Rushed law can often turn out to be bad law. Indeed we understand that the Attorney General has concerns about these amendments. This justice bill was not intended for this purpose.

“The party will therefore oppose the various amendments on this issue.

“We have asked the Minister of Health, by the end of February, to establish a working group including clinicians in this field and legally qualified persons to make recommendations as to how the issue of fatal foetal abnormality can be addressed including, if necessary, draft legislation.

“We would expect that they would consult with interested parties including those who have been affected.

“The panel will be asked to report within six months. We hope that other parties will be able to support this common sense approach.”