The variety of abortions in Northern Ireland has risen for the fifth 12 months running since legalisation in 2019.
While abortion has been legal in the remaining of the United Kingdom since 1968, much of Northern Ireland was opposed and it used to have one of the vital pro-life legal frameworks.
Indeed, legalisation in 2019 didn’t come due to a change in local priorities but due to intervention of Westminster which passed an amendment to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act, proposed by Labour MP Stella Creasy.
When no Executive could possibly be formed locally by October 2019, sections 58–59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 were repealed, decriminalising abortion on 22 October 2019.
Since then abortion has risen every 12 months within the province, starting with 1,574 abortions within the 12 months ending 31 March 2021 and reaching 2,899 within the 12 months ending 31 March 2025.
Belfast appears to be the “abortion capital” of Northern Ireland, with the Belfast Trust carrying out essentially the most abortions within the province (797), followed by the South Eastern Trust (676 abortions).
There was a 102.63%% increase in abortions at 13 weeks and over – 154 babies within the 12 months ending 31 March 2025, up from 76 the previous 12 months – and 19 babies with ‘non-fatal disabilities’ were aborted under ground E of the regulations prior to now 12 months, up from 16 in 2022 – ground E permits babies with Down’s syndrome, cleft lip and club foot to be aborted as much as birth.
Catherine Robinson, Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, called the incapacity statistics “tragic”.
She denounced the “extreme” abortion regime imposed on Northern Ireland by Westminster and said that 100,000 people were likely alive today due to the province’s previously stringent laws on abortion.
“It is an incredible tragedy that 2,899 lives were lost to abortion in Northern Ireland for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025,” she said.
“Stormont must act now to take back control and take away this inhumane abortion regime that was forced on Northern Ireland by Westminster.”
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