A Belfast woman has won High Court approval to challenge Northern Ireland’s strict abortion laws.

Sarah Ewart’s lawyers argued that the current regime breaches Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, dealing with entitlements to private and family life. They also contended that the legislation is having a “chilling effect” on anyone considering assisting in an abortion as doctors could be left fearing potential life imprisonment if they become involved, the court heard.

Earlier this year Britain’s supreme court concluded that abortion laws in the North are incompatible with human rights law. But the court still rejected the case because the party who brought it, Northern Ireland’s Human Rights Commission, did not have the necessary legal standing.

Mrs Ewart has now brought a case in her own name, as a woman directly affected by the abortion legislation,

Mr Justice McCloskey ruled on Wednesday that she has established an arguable case against the Departments of Justice and Health at Stormont.