Political parties will not oppose opening

REACTION:THREE OF Northern Ireland's main political parties expressed their opposition to abortion yesterday but indicated they would not formally oppose the opening of a Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast to provide abortions as long as it operated within the law.

The North’s DUP Minister of Health Edwin Poots said he noted that the clinic had said it would apply Northern Ireland law on abortion.

In the North, abortion is legal where there is a risk to the life of the woman or a risk of real and serious adverse effect to her physical and mental health on either a long-term or permanent basis.

The Marie Stopes clinic, which is scheduled to open on Great Victoria Street next Thursday, will offer abortion up to nine weeks’ gestation as well as a range of sexual and reproductive healthcare services. It will be the first private clinic to offer abortions on the island of Ireland.

“Abortion in Northern Ireland is regulated by the criminal law, and punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It will be for the police to investigate any concerns that arise and the courts to determine whether an offence has been carried out,” said Mr Poots.

A DUP spokesman said the party opposed any extension of the British 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. “Any service provided by the Marie Stopes organisation in Northern Ireland will have to comply with the law as it stands here. That law provides for abortion only where the mother’s life is in danger or her long-term physical or mental health is at risk,” he said.

A Sinn Féin spokesman said the party opposed abortion and the extension of the 1967 act. “Sinn Féin believes that where a woman’s life or mental health is at risk or in grave danger that the final decision rests with the woman,” he added. “The Marie Stopes clinic is a private institution. It has to operate under the guidelines and the legal framework set out by the Department of Health in the North,” he said.

An SDLP spokeswoman said, “Any sexual health and pregnancy service operating in this region must work within the legislative and regulative boundaries in this jurisdiction. Further clarification is required on how this health service provider will be monitored and regulated.

“The SDLP is a pro-life party and remains opposed to any extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland,” she added. “Everyone’s focus must be on promoting better health and empowering women in particular to prevent crisis pregnancies.”