ROI majority for abortion legislation

Eight out of 10 people in the Republic of Ireland support legislation on abortion where the mother's life is in danger, according to a new poll.

The survey was conducted by the Sunday Business Post newspaper and Red C Poll.

Over 1,000 voters, surveyed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, were asked if they supported legislation for the X Case, allowing abortion where the mother's life is threatened, including by suicide.

The X Case occurred 20 years ago, involving a teenager who became pregnant after being raped.

She confessed to having suicidal thoughts and wanted to go to England for an abortion due the procedure being illegal in Ireland. However, a High Court injunction banned this.

The Supreme Court eventually ruled that a woman had the right to seek a termination if her life was in danger. However, no legislation has ever been put in place.

Ten per cent of those polled said they would not support it while 5% said they didn't know.

The poll comes just weeks after a public outcry in Ireland, and around the world, over the death of a pregnant Indian dentist at a Galway hospital after suffering a miscarraige and septicaemia.

Savita Halappanavar's husband Praveen has claimed that his wife was refused an abortion because there was a foetal heartbeat present while his wife was miscarrying.

She was 17 weeks pregnant when she died on 28 October.