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.
People like talking about floodgates. Hope this opens them. Thank you Amanda Mellet. https://t.co/2HYJjigKMv @IrishTimes #repealthe8th
— Roisin Ingle (@roisiningle) November 30, 2016
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.
Government have offered €30k in compensation to Amanda Mellet because of #abortion laws in Ireland
— Shauna Bowers (@shaunabowerss) November 30, 2016
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.
State to pay €30k to Amanda Mellet, the woman carrying a foetus w/fatal abnormality who UN found was subject to cruel and inhuman treatment
— Hugh O'Connell (@oconnellhugh) November 30, 2016
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.
Sorry, it was people like Amanda Mellet who went through inhumane treatment at he hands of the State. Where were the "love both" people?
— Dave Gorman (@daithigorman) October 20, 2016
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.
Ablsolute solidarity with Amanda Mellet, that sum is paltry for someone who had to go to the United Nations Human Rights Committee
— Linda, A Cool Virgin (@Bubblenoma) November 30, 2016
"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."
