High Court To Make Miss D Decision

RTE BREAKING NEWS
High Court to make Miss D decision Wednesday, 9 May 2007 11:08

The High Court will decide this afternoon whether or not a 17-year-old girl in the care of the Health Service Executive can travel abroad for an abortion.
The girl, known as Miss D, is four months pregnant with a child who will not survive more than a couple of days after he or she is born.
It is more than a fortnight since Miss D found out that her baby is suffering from anencephaly, a condition which is causing its brain not to develop properly.
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The teenager has been at the centre of an increasingly complicated legal battle since she decided she wanted to travel for an abortion.
She is in the care of the HSE, which says she cannot travel without court permission.
The HSE now wants the High Court to make a declaration on her right to travel.
Miss D's legal team as well as lawyers for her mother and the State say she does not need court permission to travel abroad.
Lawyers representing the unborn claim the foetus being carried by Miss D is entitled to constitutional protection. They say it would not be legal for her to have an abortion under Irish law.
However, they say there is no law stopping her from travelling abroad.
Mr Justice Liam McKechnie's judgment could have significant implications for the law governing children in care, as well as that relating to abortion. He is due to give his ruling at 2pm this afternoon.


Story from RTÉ News:http://rte.ie/news/2007/0509/abortion.html