Puberty blockers permanently banned in Northern Ireland to avoid 'back door' supply loophole

The decision is understood to have been triggered by fears about Northern Ireland becoming a “back door” for puberty blockers to be distributed across Britain.

Activists had planned to use Northern Ireland as a gateway to England, Scotland and Wales, where the drugs are permanently banned.

This ban came into place in June of this year. In July, The High Court ruled that the ban was lawful after facing challenges by transgender rights campaigners.

That same month, Susie Green, the former chief executive of the trans charity Mermaids set up a private clinic called Anne health in Northern Ireland.

This practice was set up to provide puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to under-18s.

After consulting with lawyers behind the court challenge, Green established that the regulations “prohibited the sale or supply [of puberty blockers] – but not the importation.”

She also planned to hire doctors who “are regulated by their own medical bodies outside of the UK” because they would be free to write prescriptions.

Green said: “We’ve got a network of Northern Ireland families who are willing to take receipt of medication sent to them. The families just need to go over there and the kids need to get the medication and if they bring it back it exploits this legal loophole.”

In August, the ban was temporarily extended to Northern Ireland but the government had wanted the whole executive to agree on a ban before making it permanent, as some parties within the Northern Ireland Assembly opposed the initial ban.

However, the ban became permanent after the Health minister Mike Nesbitt pushed it through.

After making the ban permanent in Britain, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he would “always put the safety of children first” and that his approach would “continue to be informed by Dr [Hilary] Cass’s review, which found there was insufficient evidence to show puberty blockers were safe for under-18s.”

Keith Jordan, the co-founder of Our Duty, a support and advocacy group for parents with gender-questioning children applauded Northern Ireland’s decision.

He said: “This marks a significant step in safeguarding children, preventing Northern Ireland from becoming a ‘back door’ for these unregulated treatments – a concern highlighted by Susie Green’s earlier attempts to circumvent mainland restrictions.”

“However, we must remain vigilant, as the demand for these drugs may drive young people to unregulated, dangerous sources.”

He urged policymakers to continue to safeguard children.