Men would face prosecution if their sexual partners obtain an illegal abortion after falling pregnant under proposals put forward by the Green Party in Northern Ireland.

Clare Bailey, deputy leader of the Green Party and an election candidate in Belfast South, said she would put forward a private member’s bill to create an offence of “reckless conception” if elected.

She declared the move in a letter to the News Letter in the wake of protests against the sentencing of a 21-year-old woman who illegally induced her miscarriage.

Ms Bailey described the proposed offence as follows:

“Any male who impregnates a female knowing that any pregnancy that may result is unwanted or being reckless as to whether any such pregnancy may result, and the woman chooses to seek to end the pregnancy, shall be guilty of felony and being convicted thereof shall be liable to be imprisoned for life .”

She added: “We need to seriously address the issue of abortion. It isn’t going to go away. If other parties continue to block legislative reform, then this alternative approach would bring about equality between men and women, making men equally responsible.

“Northern Ireland has a duty under section 75 to address equality and current legislation directly discriminates against the woman only. This proposal is a way of focusing minds around the issue.

“There is nothing inherently wrong in requiring dual responsibility and if people think this is unfair then the current law is unfair too and should be changed.

“The Offences Against the Persons Act, as currently drafted, effectively means that unless a woman wants to actually get pregnant (ie a wanted pregnancy) then she should exercise appropriate contraceptive choices. This proposed law just means men should do the same.

“Green Party MLAs will continue to raise the issue of abortion in the next Assembly.”