PRESS RELEASE : A sad day for rights of the disabled – Carla Lockhart [November 2022]

The press release issued by the DUP on 25 November 2022.

Upper Bann MP and Chair of the All-Party Pro-Life Group in Westminster, Carla Lockhart, has said the Court of Appeal decision to reject a challenge brought by Heidi Crowter, a disability campaigner living with Down’s syndrome, to allow abortion up to birth of babies with the condition is a sad day for the rights of those with a disability.

Speaking after the judgement was announced in London, Carla Lockhart said:

“We live in a society where we hear of demands for equality and rights on a daily basis. In recent weeks, this has been in sharp focus with the World Cup and the debate around rights in Qatar.

Yet today in our own country, the most basic yet most important human right – the right to life – has been denied to those babies diagnosed in the womb with Down’s syndrome.

The Court of Appeal has enshrined inequality in law. A baby without a diagnosis of Down’s cannot be aborted right up to full term. A baby diagnosed with Down’s, even in the week before full term, can be aborted because it is disabled.

This is an appalling reflection on our society. Today our Courts have said those with Down’s are less worthy of the right to life. For those living with the condition and living full, active and loving lives, it is a callous message issued from our judiciary.

I commend Heidi Cowter for her campaigning on this issue. I trust she will bring this to the Supreme Court, and that at that stage we can have equality and rights re-established for those diagnosed with Down’s.”