Marie-Stopes Opposition Continues to Fight.

The North's Attorney General has called for an investigation into the opening of the Marie Stopes centre, Belfast's first private abortion clinic, following more anti-abortion rallies. 

The new facility will offer terminations up to nine weeks’ gestation, each costing £450 (€556.90).  Up to 200 activists gathered to protest outside the clinic on Belfast’s Great Victoria Street tody.
Bernadette Smyth, from Precious Life, which organised the rally, said:

“There is no will for Marie Stopes to be here, they are not welcome here. The people here want to make a stand.


“Unborn children here are precious and there is no will for abortion to be legalised here from the people or politicians. It’s clear that unborn children are protected here.

“We are still seeking legal advice. I would not rule out an injunction. I am still working with the justice system and our politicians to ensure that Marie Stopes does not take the lives of any unborn children.”

In 21st Century Ireland, is it really acceptable to be preventing the pro-choice, the church is no longer a leading power in the countries politics. In this modern day world do these "Victorian times" views have any place. 

It is after all not illegal in the North but is strictly controlled. The procedure is only permitted if the life or mental health of the mother is at serious risk.  Though public opinion against the clinic is supported by residents from south of the border such as that of Daire Fitzgerald, 51, who travelled from Dublin to take part in the rally. He said: “I was shocked to hear that Marie Stopes is opening in Ireland. There is no need. It is just horrible that they have moved here – people on both sides of the border do not want this.”

The Attorney General’s office confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Stormont justice committee’s DUP chairman, Paul Givan.
In the letter, John Larkin, who is the chief legal adviser to the Stormont Executive, said he was not allowed to intervene in an official capacity but could offer advice, act as counsel and interview witnesses in a non-statutory role as guardian of the rule of law. 
 
The letter written to the justice committee is asking it to look into the practices of the new facility which officially opens today.

Marie Stopes has insisted its new centre, will operate within the current legal framework, providing medical not surgical terminations up to nine weeks’ gestation with aftercare including counselling.

Tracey McNeill, vice president and director of Marie Stopes UK and Europe, said the organisation would not break the law.  “We knew that this was never going to be easy. The reason we are here is that we know there is a need for a service like ours," said McNeil

“What we are providing is family planning, contraception and counselling. The majority of women that come to us we won’t be able to treat because of the legal framework and we are really clear about that.

“But, if we can provide them with a space in which they can make their own decisions and choices, then the team will have done a good job.

“We are clear about the law here. The team here are all from Northern Ireland - we understand the culture here. We don’t want to change the culture here and have abortion on demand. This is about offering choice.”



Choice Ireland, a pro-choice organisation, has recently welcomed the news of the opening of the clinic. Spokesperson Sinéad Ahern said the opening of the clinic will reduce what she called the "psychological and financial burden" for women south of the border who are seeking a termination.

Elsewhere, Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has told the Seanad that colleagues had criticised the opening of the clinic this week.

Senator Bacik said the clinic had said it would be operating within the law for women seeking to terminate pregnancies and that at least it is facing up to a reality for many thousands of Irish women.
She said about 4,000 women from the Republic still go to the UK every year for abortions.

Should these thousands of women along with those in the North be aloud to choose for themselves or should we continue to dictate to them the beliefs of the Catholic Church, despite the fact that it no longer has the respect of the people to govern such policies?