The paper repeatedly called it a secret abortion. In truth, it must by now be the least secret of all the 170,000-plus abortions that happen in England and Wales every year.
While the paper fulminated, it encouraged contributors to its web site to add their voice. Alongside the outrage expressed, there was a fair amount of informed common sense.
Readers explained that it wasn't the school that arranged the abortion.
They described the role of a health adviser, and the rules about confidentiality.
They explained how Michelle would have been encouraged, but not forced, to tell her parents.
On the morning the newspaper came out, there were 71 replies to the Mail's web site discussion thread, sloppily titled, "14 year old girl has abortion advised by school". Five contributors argued that something is wrong with the system.
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