The Northern Irish Assembly passed a motion Tuesday night rejecting a major plank of the North’s new abortion law.

MLA’s from both communities voted 46 to 40 against abortion for non-fatal disabilities, including Down’s syndrome.

The motion also implied a rejection of the whole abortion regime recently imposed by Westminster.

While the vote does not overturn the new law, it does apply pressure on the UK Government to amend or rescind it.

Sinn Fein had also come out against some of the Northern Ireland’s Office’s abortion regulations, prompting criticism from pro-choice groups such as Amnesty International who accused the party of propping up “a dangerous anti-choice agenda”.

The Republican party’s amended motion did not go so far as the one proposed by the DUP and failed to get enough support to pass.

NI’s Both Lives Matter said the vote gives hope that the North’s elected representatives “do not aspire to the extreme abortion regime that pro-choice lobbyists have insisted on”.

Both Lives Matter services advocate Marion Woods said: “Both lives matter before and after birth and so we call on our local Assembly to ensure that women and families who face a prenatal diagnosis of disability are supported during pregnancy and post-birth”.

Eilis Mulroy of the Pro-Life Campaign welcomed the motion saying the result shows what can happen when the political establishment doesn’t censor debate and allows the pro-life side to get a fair hearing. “The heart-breaking personal testimonies of women who regret their abortions and the intervention of people like disability rights campaigner Heidi Crowter all helped influence the outcome”.

She added that Westminster cannot justifiably continue to try and impose abortion on Northern Ireland. “It is clear from the 46:40 vote that this devolved issue should be decided by Northern Ireland’s elected representatives and not the UK parliament.”