Belfast City Hall is set to be lit up in support of abortion on Easter Sunday, after councillors voted 36 to 14 in favour of the proposal.
The illumination is intended to mark the Global Day of Action to De-stigmatise Abortion, which falls on the same day as Easter Sunday – 28 March 2027.
The proposal was supported at a council meeting on 2 November by Sinn Féin, Alliance, the SDLP, the Green Party and People Before Profit. The DUP and UUP opposed it.
It comes weeks after a previous attempt was blocked following a challenge by DUP councillors amid public outcry.
The planned light-up, to mark International Safe Abortion Day in September, did not proceed after the DUP pointed to the council’s failure to carry out the necessary equality screening.
As previously revealed by Gript, the push to light up City Hall came through the National Women’s Council of Ireland. However, it is an initiative of the wealthy US organisation, the Centre for Reproductive Rights, which previously sponsored court UN cases against Ireland’s pro-life laws, and sought to promote a celebration of safe abortions.
More than 20,000 people signed a petition against the cancelled public display in September
Despite weeks of controversy, councillors have overwhelming backed the Easter display.
Pro-life organisation Precious Life said in a statement: “Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the triumph of life over death.
“To use this sacred day to promote abortion is deeply offensive to Christians and demonstrates an extraordinary disregard for the religious convictions of many people across Belfast.
“Belfast City Hall belongs to everyone. It must not become a political billboard for the promotion of abortion. A civic building representing the entire community should never be used to endorse such a deeply divisive issue while disregarding the sincerely held beliefs of thousands of citizens.”
Precious Life said it was seeking legal advice on the Council’s latest decision.
“If necessary, we will pursue a judicial review and challenge this decision through the courts.
“We will not rule out any appropriate legal avenue to oppose this proposal,” said the organisation – which vowed to continue to stand up for “respect for Christian beliefs and the dignity and protection of every unborn child”.
The group says it is now considering legal action, while DUP Alderman Dean McCullough has called in the latest decision.
This means the vote could face further scrutiny.
DUP councillor McCullough called into question the proposal – pointing particularly to its timing during Holy Week.
“It was an insensitive proposal initially, so to then request another on what is arguably the holiest week in the Christian calendar makes it even more insensitive, if that is possible,” he said.
“For many, turning City Hall into effectively an abortion billboard was simply a step too far.”