Irish High Court: Unborn Children Have "Significant Rights"

News Staff : Aug 12, 2016
CBN News

“The ruling is vitally important at a time when the status of unborn babies in Ireland is once again under grave threat from pro-abortion organizations and the media.” -- Patrick Buckley

(Dublin, Ireland) — [CBN News] An Irish High Court judge has ruled that unborn children have all the rights of "born" children under the Irish constitution and law. The Irish Times reports Justice Richard Humphreys said the unborn child enjoys "significant" rights and legal position "going well beyond the right to life alone." (Photo Credit: CBN News)

He said Article 42a of the Irish Constitution means the government must protect "all" children "both before and after birth."

The ruling was issued in the deportation case of a Nigerian man, his Irish partner and their child, who was born after the case was filed.

The Irish government had argued the couple had no family rights under the Constitution because they were not married, and the only right the child had was to life.

Unborn children are protected under the Eighth Amendment to the Irish constitution. Abortion is illegal except to save the life of the mother from medical complications or suicide. It is regulated by the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013. LifeSiteNews reports the high court ruling comes during a crucial period when a foreign-funded drive to repeal the Eighth Amendment has led the government to create a Citizens Conference on loosening Ireland's abortion restrictions.

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