Sharp increase in mayo abortion figures

MORE than 70 Mayo women travelled to England for abortions last year, a sharp increase on 2013.

New figures from the UK’s department of health have revealed that 75 women who gave Mayo addresses obtained abortions in Britain last year. In 2013, 51 women were residents of Mayo.

In total, 3,735 women who gave Irish addresses travelled to Britain last year for abortions, compared to 3,679 in 2012, the first year on year increase since 2001, when the figure peaked at 6,673.

Women who gave Irish addresses accounted for 68% of the 5,521 abortions performed on non-UK residents last year.

The county from which the greatest number of women travelled was Dublin (1,389), followed by Cork (345) and Galway (175).

Almost 90% of the Irish residents who travelled for an abortion were between 18 and 39, 21 were under 16 and 84 were aged between 16 and 17. The figures also revealed that 140 abortions were carried due to congenital conditions.

Niall Behan, chief executive of the Irish Family Planning Association, said the figures are an indication of the State’s ‘continued failure to uphold women’s right to health’.

'The State cannot continue to abdicate its human rights responsibilities. It must now vindicate women’s right to health by reforming its abortion laws through Constitutional means,' he said.

However, Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said the figures do not reflect the ‘abortion regret’ felt by many women.

'We deserve an open, honest debate in Ireland. That means addressing all of the human stories behind these figures - listening to the testimonies of women who travelled for abortions and now deeply regret the loss of their child.'