“I believe private abortion services in the UK shouldn’t be needed because the NHS should be providing all abortions. The wretched way in which the Irish government simply dumps women who need abortions on the UK health services should be handled by having everyone from Ireland who comes to mainland UK to get an abortion…

Mara Clarke: “When you are talking about gender selection, you are not talking about abortion. You are talking about societies that in some cases devalue girls. So to me, that’s what we need to work on. “We have helped three couples who were getting gender-selective determinations but they were actually terminating boys. Because in all…

Last night, Mara Clarke, who runs the London-based Abortion Support Network, said the figures are supported by the experiences of Irish women who travel to Britain for abortions. “In 2013 at least 26 of the women we heard from were in or escaping abusive relationships. We expect the number is higher than this as we…

Ireland’s Health Minister James Reilly insists that the guidelines will be in place “very early in the new year.” Again: it’s progress, but it’s far from enough. As Mara Clarke, director of theAbortion Support Network, put it: “Even if this law is enacted, only a very, very small percentage of women who need abortions will…

The British NHS prides itself on being ‘free at the point of delivery’, but there’s a flaw in the system if you live in Northern Ireland. Abortion is still illegal there, except under certain conditions.  So how ‘national’ is the National Health Service? Mara Clark of Abortion Support Network said: “We’ve heard from women who’ve been…

As you might know, September 28th was the International Day to Decriminalise Abortion – maybe I even marched with you in Dublin on Sunday. At ASN, we also marked a milestone this September: we heard from our 1000th client. Can you believe it? I still vividly remember our very first client. Evelyn* was in her…