David Ford to appeal ruling on Northern Ireland’s abortion laws

A landmark ruling by the High Court in Belfast on Northern Ireland’s abortion laws is to be appealed by Stormont’s Minister for Justice amid concerns it has inadvertently paved the way for terminations on demand.

David Ford said there was a need to clarify Mr Justice Horner's judgment, which declared elements of the current law incompatible with human rights legislation.

The ruling focused on ending the ban on women accessing abortion in cases of sexual crime or after a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality (FFA).

However, Mr Ford warned that the judge’s words could be interpreted as advocating a near blanket relaxation of abortion legislation.

Northern Ireland's Attorney General John Larkin is also appealing against the judgment. He is appealing against the entirety of the ruling but Mr Ford is challenging specific elements.