Campaigner urges May to step in on NI abortion laws

Northern Ireland will be the only part of the UK or Ireland not to allow the procedure after the Republic voted overwhelmingly for change in a referendum at the weekend.

Sarah Ewart went for a termination in England in 2013 after doctors told her her unborn baby would not survive outside the womb.

The Stormont Assembly is suspended due to the collapse of power-sharing more than a year ago.

Ms Ewart told the BBC: “If we had an Assembly here, we would be literally at their doors begging, but we don’t so we are really hoping that we can have help from Westminster and Theresa May to give us the access we need here in Northern Ireland.

“It’s a relief that women like me are going to be able to travel down to Dublin to access this procedure, but really we are wanting the help here to have it within our own hospitals in Northern Ireland.”

Ms Ewart’s legal case galvanised an issue which has since made its way to the UK Supreme Court.

Mrs May is under pressure to intervene in the Northern Ireland debate following the two-to-one Irish vote in favour of reform.

Her government is propped up in key votes by the DUP, which opposes any relaxation in the law and which has opposed any change in Northern Ireland under devolution.

Meanwhile, the Irish government has said the Republic has “set the tone” for what should happen in Northern Ireland.

Employment Minister Regina Doherty said her colleagues will move quickly on legislation. New laws are expected to be in place by the end of the year and Health Minister Simon Harris is to consult officials in his department on the legislation and guidelines.

The Irish Cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to consider a memo on the way forward.

Ms Doherty said the “vast majority” of doctors will deliver the service women require despite some having a “conscientious objection” to the result.