A judicial review was brought against the Attorney General and the Department of Justice by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) last year.

In an “historic” ruling, Mr Justice Horner ruled that article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights is breached by the general prohibition of abortions in cases of FFA and pregnancies as a consequence of sexual crimes.

He subsequently declared that the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 was incompatible with the ruling.

The case will now return to the Court of Appeal and Amnesty International has said the case could wind up reaching the UK Supreme Court.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland programme director, said: “The High Court made a very clear ruling that laws governing abortion in Northern Ireland breach the human rights of women and girls. That important ruling stands and we stand ready to resist any attempt to overturn it.

“It is notable that the Department of Justice, which was the respondent in this case, does not appear to be appealing the Court’s decision. The Minister clearly recognises that our abortion law must be changed.”