Man withdraws High Court application for abortion travel ban
A man has withdrawn an application for a High Court order stopping his pregnant girlfriend from leaving Ireland over fears her parents were putting undue pressure on her to have an abortion.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy was told that the man has put faith in a sworn statement from his girlfriend that things ‘will continue as at present in relation to the pregnancy’.
The matter first came before Ms Justice Mary Laffoy on Wednesday, when the man sought an order stopping his girlfriend from leaving Ireland.
He expressed fears her parents were putting undue pressure on her to have an abortion in the UK because they were of the view she would be ruined if she had a child with a non-white man.
The couple are both foreign nationals.
Ms Justice Laffoy put the matter back until today to allow the woman time to get legal advice.
But this morning the man’s lawyers withdrew the case in its entirety telling the court that matters will continue as at present in relation to the pregnancy.
That suggests she is having the baby.
The couple, in their 20s, have been living in Ireland.
On Wednesday the man asked the court for a number of injunctions preventing his girlfriend from having an abortion or from leaving the jurisdiction until she could be assessed to see if she was acting of her own free will.
He claimed she had been happy with the pregnancy and that her family were forcing her into a clinic in the UK for an abortion.
The case was adjourned to allow the woman to get legal advice and hand in an affidavit.
Mr O Tuathail told the court his client was happy to withdraw the application and was in a position to place his faith in the statements handed to the court.
Attorney General Maire Whelan was a notice party to the proceedings despite earlier saying she had no role to play in the case.
Ms Laffoy said she was grateful a representative barrister had been present.
“It was a very emotive matter and I was afraid I would need objective assistance,” the judge added.
No order was made for costs.
Pro-life campaign groups later confirmed they had supported the couple during the case.
Representatives from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) and Precious Life revealed they are willing to foot the legal bill for the proceedings and offer other financial help if needed.
Bernadette Smith of Belfast-based Precious Life claimed the man made contact with its counselling service through the Citizens Advice Bureau in Northern Ireland.
“There were very happy in their relationship and the involvement of parents caused some problems,” said Ms Smith, who handed the woman rosary beads outside the courtroom.
“They were both very happy with the pregnancy, there were no issues there.
“The couple were not planning to abort the baby.
“It was important the decision they had both made was protected.”
Ms Smith said its service informs women of the consequences of having an abortion.
“Life is precious and we in society should always be providing support to any woman, any parent, who would face a crisis pregnancy,” she said.
“There is always a better way.
“Women deserve better than abortion.
“This is why we are involved here today to ensure that mother and child are protected and families who would be involved in coercion are aware of the consequences of abortion.”
Liam Gibson of SPUC said the issue of coercion “is something that really needs to be seriously looked at”.
He confirmed the couple’s legal fees would be paid if needed, but had not been to date.
“Costs are a secondary issue, the life of a child and the safety of the mother is of paramount importance,” he said.
