A young man who asked the High Court for an injunction to prevent his girlfriend travelling to the UK for an abortion has withdrawn his application.
The man had said on Wednesday he believed his girlfriend was being forced to undergo the procedure by her parents.
In the High Court this morning, Ms Justice Mary Laffoy struck out the proceedings after counsel for the man said he was withdrawing his application in light of an affidavit from his girlfriend.
He felt he could “place his faith” in the statements contained in that affidavit. “I hope things work out for both parties,” Ms Justice Laffoy said.
She also thanked the attorney general for observing proceedings. “It’s a very emotive matter and I was afraid I would need objective assistance,” she added.
It is understood the woman will continue with her pregnancy.
Representatives for Society for the Protection of the Unborn said afterwards they had supported the man and were willing to cover his legal bills. They said the man got in touch with them after the Citizens Advice Bureau gave him their number.
A member of the group said the man acted to protect the life of his partner and child.
The court action was initiated earlier this week after the man apparently discovered arrangements were made for his girlfriend to have an abortion in the UK. He claimed he has no desire to restrain her travelling should that be her freely held wish but he believes she is being forced to undergo the procedure by her family.
The court was told the couple, who are in their 20s, have known each other for a year but the woman’s family has not accepted their relationship.
The man claimed his girlfriend’s family wass unhappy that she was in involved with someone of non-European origin. In an affidavit to the court, he said the woman “is happy to be pregnant” and had “never expressed any desire to have an abortion”.
