Bishops cleared to intervene in abortion case
Thursday September 13 2001
In the High Court in Belfast Mr Justice Kerr gave leave for the bishops to become a "third party" in a judicial review brought by the Family Planning Association.
But he deferred a decision on whether or not to allow three other anti-abortion groups to become involved.
They are the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, Precious Life and Care and Life.
The Family Planning Association has stressed the case is not about extending the British 1967 Abortion Act to the North.
It insists it merely wants the court to order the Department of Health to publish guidelines on the provision of terminations under the existing law.
But anti-abortion campaigners claim the clarification argument is a tactic by the pro-abortion lobby to overcome public, medical and ethical opposition. The hearing was adjourned until October 3 when Mr Justice Kerr proposes to lay down a programme of the progress.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet sub-committee on abortion has not yet finalised its report, it emerged last night writes Gene McKenna.
The sub-committee met again earlier in the week but is expected to have at least one more session before finalising its report to the Cabinet.
A Government spokesperson said last night it was expected the sub-committee would report to the Cabinet "shortly".
The report from the sub-committee of ministers will have a significant bearing on the chances of an abortion referendum being held during the lifetime of this Government.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been coming under increasing pressure from some of his own backbenchers and some of the four Independents supporting the Government to go ahead with a referendum.
