The first termination of a pregnancy under the provisions of new abortion legislation has been carried out at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street.

The termination of the twin pregnancy was carried out on a patient who was nearly 18 weeks' pregnant.

It was carried out in view of the risk to her life and the unviability of her pregnancy. The foetal heartbeat was present, the Irish Times has reported.

It is reported that patient made a good recovery after receiving antibiotic treatment and having the termination a number of weeks ago.

The case was in some ways similar to that of Savita Halappanavar, as the woman's membranes had ruptured and she was showing signs of sepsis.

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill became law at the end of July.

The National Maternity Hospital is one of 25 hospitals in the State authorised to carry out terminations under the provisions of the Act. 

The Chairman of its board of governors is the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin.

However, the Church's influence on policy at Holles Street is not as pronounced as other Catholic voluntary hospitals. Archbishop Martin recently suggested to Health Minister James Reilly that the arrangement whereby the Archbishop chairs the Holles Street board should end.

The Holles Street termination was performed under section seven of the legislation, which deals with the risk of loss of life of a woman from a physical illness. 

In accordance with the law, the woman's obstetrician and another doctor certified, prior to the procedure, that there was a real and substantial risk to her life, which could only be averted by carrying out a termination.