The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (Spuc) has won a High Court challenge in which it sought a clarification on the government-issued guidelines on abortion in Northern Ireland.

The lawsuit, filed by the anti-abortion campaigner Spuc, pertained to a March-published document by the Department of Health. Spuc was seeking a judicial on the first-of-its-kind guide for health professionals in Northern Ireland on abortion, which is considered illegal in the country.

The court verdict had Lord Justice Girvan saying that though the guidance related to situations where termination of pregnancy was lawful – in conditions where the mother’s life or mental well- being are at risk - was correct; the document was clearly ambiguous in terms of counselling and conscientious objection.

Pointing to the objectionable part of the document, Lord Justice Girvan said that the document implies that non-judgmental non-directive counselling should be available to women before, during and after the termination of pregnancy.

Stopping short of nullifying the document, Lord Justice Girvan said that since the guidance is misleading, the document should be withdrawn. The judge further added that the guidance needed to be absolutely clear otherwise it represented “a trap to the unwary.”

Hailing the court decision, Spuc’s Liam Gibson said: “Any new guidance that the department brings forward needs to take fully into account the duty of care and the legal protection owed to the child before birth.”