Government compensates woman €30,000 for harm over abortion ban

Amanda Mellet has been awarded €30,000 in compensation from the Irish Government.

The payment is a result of an earlier United Nation's Human Rights Committee ruling which stated that she had faced "cruel, inhuman treatment" due to Ireland's abortion ban.

Amanda has also been offered counselling and other support services.

The ruling, which occurred in June this year, came after Amanda filed a complaint with the UN after she was forced to "travel" for a termination. 

Minister for Health Simon Harris offered the compensation in a meeting on Tuesday evening.

The meeting took place one week before an imposed deadline set out by the UN for Ireland to respond. 

In November 2011, Amanda learned that her foetus had congenital heart defects caused by a condition known as Edwards’ syndrome and that it would die in the uterus or shortly after birth.

After being told by her doctors of the serious genetic condition, Amanda was advised to either carry to full term or seek an abortion abroad.

She spent €3,000 on a termination in Liverpool.

Amanda complained that the State’s ban on abortion had violated her human rights under international law, and the United Nation's Human Rights Committee agreed.

"When I read the report from the UNHR Committee I found the experience she went through deeply upsetting," said the Minister for Health.

"Indeed, I have subsequently met with other families who have been through the trauma of knowing their baby will not survive and made the difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy abroad and I have been very moved on hearing of their experiences."

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