The first arrests have been made under Northern Ireland’s new abortion exclusion zones legislation, less than a week after the zones outside hospitals and centres providing abortion were enforced in law.
The PSNI confirmed to Gript that police attended the scene of a protest outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine on Tuesday 3rd October, resulting in the arrest of two people.
The Newsletter have reported, and Gript understands, that the first person to be arrested under the legislation was a Catholic woman who was praying when approached by police.
In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said:
“There were two protesters within the established safe access zone. Officers engaged with the man and woman over an extended period, explaining the legislation and encouraged them to move their protest away from the safe access zone.”
The PSNI said “the pair refused to leave the area. Both were then arrested under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023 legislation and were, a short time later, bailed pending further enquiries.”
“Causeway Coast and Glens Chief Inspector Vince Redmond said: “We have been in communication with the Department of Health and Health Trusts in preparation for the introduction of safe access zones across Northern Ireland this month,” the statement added.
The PSNI continued: “The legislation seeks to balance the right to peaceful protest with the rights of those wishing to access these services safely.”
“As a Police Service we will seek to work with the Department of Health, local Health Trusts and all relevant parties to respond as appropriate to any breaches of the legislation that are reported to us.
“We would expect that persons will respect the zone, to avoid any requirement for police action, which may lead to an arrest.”
A total of five Health and Social Care Trusts have introduced the zones, which were supported by a majority of Stormont MLAs.
In the Belfast Trust, the zones have been introduced outside Bradbury Wellness and Treatment Centre, and the College Street centre, where telemedicine abortion clinics take place daily.
Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry In the Southern Trust have also brought in the zones, as well as Lagan Valley Hospital, Ulster Hospital (both Southeastern Trust), Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry (Western Trust) and the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, which covers the Northern Trust area.
In October 2021, the Bill received backing from a majority of Stormont parties, including the SDLP, who courted votes from pro-lifers in the North for years. The Abortion Services Safe Access Zones Bill, a private members Bill, had been introduced by Clare Bailey of the Greens, a former abortion centre escort, who lost her seat in the last election. Ms Bailey has since welcomed the news that the zones would be implemented.
In March of 2022, the Bill was passed at Stormont, prompting elated cheering and dancing at Parliament Buildings, in scenes which divided many.
Pro-life organisation Precious Life have condemned the introduction of the zones, which make it a criminal offence to pray or witness within 250 metres of an abortion centre or hospital.
Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said the law would have “serious implications for free speech and assembly.”
She said: “If pro-life prayer vigils can be banned and criminalised, then public speech, assembly or protest on any other issue can also be banned and criminalised. Free speech denied anywhere is a threat to free speech everywhere.”
Ms Smyth said the group were urging people to lobby their local MPs to seek clarity from the UK Home Secretary that prayer in any public space is still legal.
She referenced a letter to police forces in England and Wales in September, in which the Home Secretary Suella Braverman said silent prayer is not unlawful. She reminded police officers that “holding lawful opinions, even if those opinions may offend others, is not a criminal offence” and said, “[policing] includes a requirement to preserve all rights, including the right to free speech.” She added, “silent prayer, in itself, is not unlawful”.
Ms Smyth said, “We are calling on our MPs to demand that citizens of Northern Ireland have the same right to pray as citizens in the rest of the UK.”
She added:, “In a humane society, the safest place for a baby should be their mother’s womb. Precious Life will work to create ‘safe zones’ for all unborn babies and their mothers throughout Northern Ireland. We will not be deterred by these draconian exclusion zones.”
The group have vowed to “redouble” their efforts in public awareness campaigns in spite of the zones.