Abortion consultation will be watched closely says pro-life group SPUC Belfast, : The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has concerns that the new Northern Ireland government guidance on abortion could seek to undermine the province’s abortion laws the way that previous guidelines did.

Liam Gibson of SPUC Northern Ireland, said: "Given the health department’s record on this matter, we shall be looking at its proposals very closely. In the past, health officials have largely ignored submissions from pro-life doctors and lawyers, and from the pro-life movement in general. The department appeared to be more interested in widening the scope for abortion in Northern Ireland.

"As a result, the guidance was fatally flawed. If we hadn’t taken the department to court, the guidance would have seriously undermined Northern Ireland’s legal protection for children before birth, and compelled doctors and medical staff to perform or facilitate abortions. If new guidance fails to uphold Northern Ireland’s legal restrictions on abortion then there will be no choice but to go back to the courts."

SPUC challenged previous guidance by Northern Ireland’s health department in court and won. As well as withdrawing the old guidance, the department has announced that it is launching a public consultation on new guidance.