Big rise in Irish abortions

THE number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortions has reached record levels, according to new figures.

The total last year was 5,325, a nine per cent rise on 1996. The figures, from the National Statistics Office, are based only on women who gave Irish addresses to the clinics involved - many others are believed to have hidden their true identities. Abortion in Ireland is banned by the Republic's constitution.