A Christian group has said it is considering legal action after an abortion provider launched a 'pills by post' service for women in Northern Ireland during the coronavirus lockdown.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) launched the free emergency telemedical service on Thursday after the UK Government's double U-turn on abortion guidelines during the lockdown, which introduced DIY abortions without parliamentary debate.
The change makes it possible for women and girls to take abortion pills at home up to 10 weeks without visiting a clinic.
"We are proud to be able to offer a safe, high-quality telemedical service to NI women in their time of need," BPAS announced on Twitter.
Telemedical abortion services are already available to women in other parts of the UK.
The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is already seeking a judicial review into the introduction of DIY abortions, called the service "disturbing" and accused BPAS of "pushing its own agenda" on Northern Ireland.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, CLC's partner organisation, said: "BPAS has introduced this service knowing there is already deep concern as to the legality of DIY abortions and knowing full well that the women of Northern Ireland are not asking for it and do not want it.
"At a time of national crisis, BPAS should be concentrating its efforts on supporting the health service. Instead, BPAS is using the coronavirus pandemic to extend its reach and to subvert the rule of law in order to achieve the long-standing aim of the organisation of abortion on demand.
"BPAS's announcement is a brazen undemocratic act in the midst of a national crisis. It is an insult to the will of the people of Northern Ireland who have stated clearly that they do not want extreme abortion laws in their country."
She went on to call on the Government to intervene to halt the "dangerous" service and protect vulnerable women in Northern Ireland.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has also criticised the move.
Antonia Tully, SPUC's Director of Campaigns, said that taking abortion pills at home could be fatal for some women. She also raised concerns about domestic abuse victims being forced into an abortion at home.
"A phone consultation is a dangerous basis on which to make abortion pills available," she said.
"It could be very difficult to make a proper assessment of the woman's health condition over the phone. For example, if a woman has an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, such a system could allow the abortion to go ahead with life-threatening consequences.
"There will also be very little chance of establishing whether the woman is being coerced into abortion.
"We are seeing an increase in domestic abuse under the coronavirus lockdown. My fear is that many women will be pressured into phoning for an abortion by abusive partners. We know that domestic violence is a huge indicator for abortion."
