U.K. Top Court Criticizes Strict Northern Irish Abortion Law

The region retains some of the strictest laws in Europe, out of step with the rest of the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland

The people of the Republic of Ireland voted in a May 25 referendum on whether to repeal the ban on abortion. For both sides, it has been more than a debate about abortion rights—it was a battle over health care, human rights, identity and values.
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LONDON—Britain’s Supreme Court rejected a legal bid Thursday to overturn Northern Ireland’s near-total ban on abortions, but set the stage for future challenges.

For now, the ruling means Northern Ireland retains some of the strictest laws in Europe. The small region remains out of step with the rest of the U.K., as well as the neighboring Republic of Ireland, which voted in May to lift a decades-old ban.

Although...