Irish judges have ruled that life support should be removed from a brain-dead pregnant woman because her living 18-week-old fetus cannot survive to birth.

Friday's ruling was accepted by lawyers representing the rights of the woman and the unborn child, who in Ireland has a constitutionally protected right to life.

The mother, who is in her 20s, suffered a catastrophic brain injury on November 29 after falling over in a hospital bathroom. She was transferred from that hospital, which is outside Dublin, to a specialist centre in the capital for assessment.

Following tests, it was determined on December 3 that she was brain dead. She was returned to the original hospital who insisted on continuing life support despite the objections of her family.

Medics in the case feared they would be prosecuted if they switched off the life-support system because there still was a foetal heart beat, despite medical evidence that there was very little chance the baby would be born alive.

Members of the woman's family have sought to switch the equipment off to preserve her dignity. 

The court accepted testimony from seven doctors that the fetus "has nothing but distress and death in prospect."

The High Court added that it was a case of 'great public importance', and that the woman's family and partner would not have to pay costs for taking the case. 

Ireland has the strictest anti-abortion laws in Europe.

The Associated Press reported later on Friday, that the mother, whose name was not released because of legal reasons, was taken off of life support shortly after the court rendered its decision.