A doctor, whose practice in Spain was found to be carrying out illegal late-term abortions, has finally been imprisoned after almost five years of prolonged court proceedings.
Dr Carlos Morin's clinic was "fully recommended" by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) when it was investigated by undercover journalists in 2004.
A judge in Spain has now sentenced Dr Morin to 18 months in prison. Christian Concern's Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, has said that Dr Morin should be given a life ban from practice considering the findings at the clinic.
She also said that BPAS should come under strong legal scrutiny for recommending illegal services.
Abortions offered at 26 weeks
BPAS, Britain's largest abortion provider, had referred reporters from the Sunday Telegraph, who had posed as a couple seeking a late-term abortion, to the Ginemedex clinic in Barcelona.
Despite the abortion limit being 22 weeks in Spain, the couple were quoted prices for abortions at 26 weeks.
The transcript shows records of several phone calls to the clinic and conversations with the staff upon arrival, with repeated claims that there would not be any "legal problems" if a late-term abortion was carried out. Despite
admitting that that these were not legal under Spanish law, the staff assured the undercover reporters that there was a "loophole".
They admitted that to get around the law they put down "gynaecological emergency" as a reason for late-term abortions of healthy babies.
Regular referrals from BPAS
When enquiring to BPAS about the Barcelona clinic, the organisation's staff said told the reporters they had"gone there and checked the clinic out". In response to being asked whether they "fully recommend" the clinic, they said "we do, yes".
Staff at the Barcelona clinic told the reporters that BPAS regularly sends patients to them for these illegal abortions.
At the time, Ann Furedi, BPAS’ Chief Executive, claimed: "There is nothing we are doing that is unlawful. We are simply providing women with international contacts to clinics that can provide them with abortion services."
Illegal abortions carried out
The incident follows a previous charge against Dr Morin after the findings of illegal activity taking place at his clinic.
In 2007, he was found guilty of involvement in carrying out 11 counts of illegal abortion.
Judge José Antonio Rodríguez ruled that Morin was the "sole true director and mastermind behind all of the activity that took place in his clinics", therefore acquitting the other gynaecologists who carried out many of the abortions.
He said that they were manipulated by Morin, who ensured that the paperwork appeared to be in order before each abortion took place.
'Scandalous situation'
The prosecution in 2007 was brought by the public prosecutor and E-Cristians, a Catholic association near Barcelona. The organisation said that it was appalled after the clinic's activities came to light.
Josep Miró, E-Cristians' president, said: "We felt that this was a scandalous situation. Morin got rich on the basis of practising this kind of abortion, because with normal legal procedures people don't make so much money. It is the first time there has been a conviction in Spain for illegal abortion."
Although Morin was acquitted in 2013, a retrial was ordered on appeal, as evidence from the Telegraph investigation, and a following undercover investigation by a Danish film crew, had earlier been ruled inadmissible.
Dr Morin has now been found guilty.
UK’s 'relentless campaign' to decriminalise abortion
Josephine Quintavalle of the ProLife Alliance, who spoke against the findings that were exposed in 2004, said: "As the abortion lobby in our country continues its relentless campaign for decriminalisation, it is encouraging to see the tenacity of the Spanish pro-life movement assisted by other European pro-life groups, who have at last been rewarded with a definitive conviction against Dr Carlos Morin for the illegal killing of late-term unborn children."
BPAS knowingly promoted illegal services
Andrea Williams, commenting on the result, said: "We are pleased that these atrocities have been brought to light. This doctor should have been given a lifetime ban, considering what has taken place at his clinic.
"We must also not forget BPAS' role in this. The organisation knowingly directed patients to a clinic that offers illegal late-term abortions - BPAS was aware that the Barcelona clinic operated over the 22-week limit yet promoted their services. That is shocking and should not be ignored."
BPAS is currently campaigning for the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK, which would make abortion legal up to birth for any reason. The campaign, 'We Trust Women', is being backed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), which signed up the union to without consulting its members.
The Chief Executive of the RCM, Cathy Warwick, is also Chair of the Board of Trustees for BPAS.
Pro-life campaigner's fight against gender abortion
Christian Legal Centre client Aisling Hubert has been campaigning to bring two UK doctors caught offering illegal abortions in the UK to justice.
A Telegraph investigation in 2012 filmed Dr Prabha Sivaraman and Dr Palaniappan Rajmohan were agreeing to arrange abortions solely on the grounds of the child's gender.
Aisling, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, challenged the court's refusal to prosecute the doctors. Last December the High Court rejected Aisling's appeal for Judicial Review. She is now to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and the application will call on "all of Europe to prohibit abortion on grounds of sex".
Please pray for Aisling and the Christian Legal Centre team as they prepare for the appeal.
Related Links:
Jail for 'mastermind' behind late abortions clinic exposed by The Telegraph (Telegraph)
Abortion Scandal: Transcripts (Telegraph)
High Court's 'gender-abortion' ruling to be appealed
The Royal College of Midwives supports abortion up to birth