Abortion and same-sex marriage have been offically legalised in Northern Ireland after a group of local lawmakers failed on Monday in a last minute bid to prevent the London-ordered liberalisation of the laws.
Abortion had been illegal in the British-ruled province unless the mother’s life was in danger, but was decriminlised at midnight on Monday, with service providers to be allowed to operate next year.
The British government is currently drawing up new regulations to permit gay marriages and same-sex civil partnerships in Northern Ireland.