Northern Ireland's Family Planning Association has welcomed a Court of Appeal decision to order the Department of Health to draw up specific guidelines on when abortion can be carried out under the existing law.
The health authorities had refused to institute such guidelines, a stance strongly supported by the Northern Catholic Bishops and Pro-Life groups.
Audrey Simpson, a spokeswoman for the association, said that not everyone is aware that abortion is permissible in Northern Ireland where the mother's life is in danger or there is a serious threat to her mental or physical health.
Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro-Life Campaign had a mixed response to the decision. 'Obviously we welcome the judgement insofar as it does not make provision for the extension of the British Abortion Act to Northern Ireland'.
'However, the decision ordering clearer guidelines will hopefully not be seized upon as an excuse to further blur the distinction between necessary medical interventions in pregnancy and procedures which directly target the life of unborn children.'
