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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Anti-abortionists win court bid | Anti-abortionists win court bid |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Anti-abortion campaigners have won a High Court challenge to clarify government guidelines on abortion in Northern Ireland. | Anti-abortion campaigners have won a High Court challenge to clarify government guidelines on abortion in Northern Ireland. |
| The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child claimed guidance to health professionals was misleading and legally inaccurate. | The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child claimed guidance to health professionals was misleading and legally inaccurate. |
| The High Court ruled the Department of Health's guidelines be withdrawn. | The High Court ruled the Department of Health's guidelines be withdrawn. |
| The court found the guidelines failed to deal properly with counselling and conscientious objection. | The court found the guidelines failed to deal properly with counselling and conscientious objection. |
| The judge, Lord Justice Girvan, stopped short of quashing the document issued by the Department of Health in March. | |
| The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (Spuc) was seeking a declaration that the decision to publish the advice to health professionals was unlawful. | |
| However, Lord Justice Girvan said: "An order directing that the guidance be withdrawn must be the appropriate relief in the circumstances where it has been found to be misleading." | |
| He also awarded costs to the Spuc. | |
| Abortion is illegal in NI, except in limited circumstances where the mother's life or mental well-being are considered at risk. | Abortion is illegal in NI, except in limited circumstances where the mother's life or mental well-being are considered at risk. |
| The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children sought a judicial review of the document, which was the first published guide for health professionals in Northern Ireland on terminating pregnancy. | The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children sought a judicial review of the document, which was the first published guide for health professionals in Northern Ireland on terminating pregnancy. |
| The Royal College of Midwives has said the guidelines bring greater clarity to the legal position of staff who take part in terminations. | The Royal College of Midwives has said the guidelines bring greater clarity to the legal position of staff who take part in terminations. |