10 Dec 2009

Irish abortion laws challenged in EU court

12:54 pm on 10 December 2009

Three women are challenging Ireland's abortion laws in a case at the European Court of Human rights in Strasbourg.

If they succeed, the Irish government may have to change the law which essentially bans the procedure.

The women, who all had to travel to the United Kingdom to have their pregnancies terminated, say that violates their human rights.

The Irish government says the case concerns the country's sovereign rights and there's strong support for the current position.