Irish President Signs Law Increasing Abortion Access

In cases where the mother's life is at risk

Abortion became legal in Ireland on Tuesday in limited cases where the mother's life is at risk, after President Michael D. Higgins signed a law that has exposed deep divisions in the Catholic-majority nation.

Irish lawmakers had overwhelmingly voted through the abortion bill earlier this month, prompted by an outcry over the death last year of an Indian woman who had been refused an abortion in an Irish hospital.

"President Higgins has today signed the bill into law," a statement from the president's office confirmed on Tuesday.