Abortion issue on assembly agenda

Abortion is strictly limited in Northern Ireland

Department of Health guidelines on abortion are due to be debated by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Pro-life groups argue the guidelines will change how the law against abortion is interpreted and bring it in through the back door.

Precious Life is to present a 100,000 signature petition against abortion to First Minister Ian Paisley.

PUP leader Dawn Purvis said the guidelines were necessary to protect women and health professionals.

Precious Life held a series of meeting throughout the summer with MPs and assembly members.

Director Bernadette Smyth said: "We are confident that the majority of our assembly members will vote in support of the motion on Monday.

"Together with our 100,000 petitions, the passing of this motion will send out the clear message that the people of Northern Ireland demand protection for our unborn babies and their mothers from abortion."

Sex education

However, Ms Purvis said the debate would "further demonise the many thousands of women, who have had abortions over the last 40 years already labelled as "murderers" by "extreme anti-choice elements".

She added: "The motion proposed by Jeffrey Donaldson and Iris Robinson lends nothing to the need for a calm and rational debate on the issue of women's health."

She said she hoped to establish an assembly group to discuss ways of promoting better sexual health, more progressive sex education and information and access to abortion services.

The 1967 Abortion Act legalised the practice in England and Wales. But it was never introduced in Northern Ireland, where abortion is strictly limited.

They are only allowed when the expectant mother's life is in danger or when there is a serious long-term threat to her mental or physical health.

The Department of Health issued the guidelines after a legal case by the Family Planning Association.