A protest at Dáil Éireann against an injunction restraining a 14 year old rape victim from travelling to Britain for an abortion.
Protesters express their anger over the decision to prevent the young girl from travelling to Britain for an abortion. As the debate continues over the controversy, politicians, the public and lawyers have different views on the legal implications of the case, known as the X case.
Marchers called on the government to remove this injunction and to make sure a similar case never arises again.
The attention centred on the role of the Attorney General Harry Whelehan who is the legal advisor to the government. He also has the duty to ensure that the laws of the country are upheld in accordance with the constitution. According to lawyer and barrister Ger Hogan, what is at issue now is the extent of the power of the Attorney General. Ger Hogan believes that the Attorney General has a discretion and should only intervene where the law is being flouted. There is also concern over the legal consequences of the case.
Lawyers say that it is unlikely that the implications of this case can be reversed by new legislation. They say that the only possibility is that the judgment of Mr Justice Declan Costelloe could be overturned in the Supreme Court. However, it is not yet clear if an appeal will be taken to the Supreme Court. Another possibility is that the judgment could be overturned by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg which supersedes Irish law.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 19 February 1992. The reporter is Lorna Donlon.
