Ireland Abortion: New Legislation Is Passed The Irish Government has passed legislation for the first time allowing for abortion in limited circumstances. The landmark laws enshrine a woman's right to a termination if her life is at risk, including from suicide, Despite fears some backbenchers would revolt, a junior minister was the most high-profile of a small number to break ranks and vote against the divisive legislation. Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton was one of only five to break Government ranks and is set to be exiled by her Fine Gael party as the vote passed with a comfortable majority, with 127 voting in favour and 31 against. Savita Halappanavar died of septicaemia Protests by pro-life groups, hate mail, death threats and intimidation to politicians and campaigners worsened already bitter disputes over the reforms in the predominantly Catholic country. The abortion debate has become heated following the death of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian woman who miscarried and died in an Irish hospital in 2012 after being denied an abortion. She was 17 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to Galway University Hospital suffering from agonising pain and requesting an abortion. Her husband, Praveen, said doctors refused to terminate the pregnancy after discovering there was a foetal heartbeat, saying his wife was told: "This is a Catholic country." Previously, doctors acted under guidance from the Irish Medical Council and a Supreme Court ruling from 1992 which allowed abortion if there was a threat to the mother's life, including suicide. But the 1992 ruling has yet to be officially preserved in legislation.