The High Court in Belfast has ruled that Northern Ireland's restrictions on abortion are a breach of European human rights law.
The court says the ban on abortion in the case of rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormality is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The ruling means the legislation will have to be altered - either by a re-reading of the existing law - or by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The decision could have knock-on effects in the Republic.
Juliette Gash reports;
