Tag Archives: Belfast

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Protests outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast in 2012

An abortion clinic in Belfast has been training volunteers to escort clients past anti-abortion protesters. Escorts trained in the use of body-worn cameras have been accompanying clients of the Marie Stopes clinic to and from its city centre building.

A Northern Ireland Assembly member has said the measure is an over-reaction to the protests. There have been regular protests since the clinic opened in Great Victoria Street in 2012.

Clinic director Dawn Purvis said the protests were having an effect on clients, and that the clinic had to respond. “The women that come to us are very upset and very frightened by the behaviour of the protesters,” she said. “Our volunteers have been through a vetting scheme and a very intense training course in de-escalation methods and how to deal with conflict.”

The escorts have also been trained in additional security measures including body-worn CCTV cameras and distress calls.

However, DUP MLA Jim Wells supports the protests outside the clinic and said they are important and peaceful. “I have spoken to some of the protesters and they do try to talk to women and persuade them not to have an abortion, but certainly watching what goes on, I don’t see anything that would cause me concern.” He said the clinic has gone “over the top” by introducing the escort scheme and additional security measures.

Meanwhile, an harassment case against Precious Life founder Bernie Smyth is due to resume on Tuesday next.

Anti-abortion campaigner harassed Purvis, court told (Irish News)

Marie Stopes clinic in protest escorts move (Robbie Meredith, BBC News NI)

Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

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An American anti-abortion healthcare provider is planning to open a clinic in Belfast, the BBC has learned. Stanton Healthcare aims to have a clinic operating in the city centre by early 2015.

Representatives from Stanton Healthcare recently visited Belfast, and the BBC understands that they have identified premises on Great Victoria Street in the city as a site for the clinic. The facility would therefore be close to Belfast’s Marie Stopes clinic, which has been open since 2012.

The BBC understands that Stanton Healthcare plans to offer pregnancy counselling and also medical facilities like ultrasound scans. The firm has claimed that over 90% of what they describe as “abortion-vulnerable women” who have ultrasound scans at their Boise clinic choose to give birth.

However, its staff are working closely with the Northern Ireland-based anti-abortion organisation, Precious Life. Bernadette Smyth from Precious Life welcomed Stanton Healthcare’s plans. “We would hope that women in crisis pregnancy would be given free ultrasound, free pregnancy tests and support,” she told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme. “We want to provide a better service that’s not available here.”


Stanton Healthcare to open anti-abortion clinic in Belfast (Robbie Meredith, BBC News NI)

Previously: Pure Hatstand

Ultra Sound

Meanwhile, On Great Victoria Street, Belfast

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Shocking details of the heroin-related death of a north Belfast grandmother have emerged. Fra Stone from the Community Drugs Programme of Falls Community Council said he believed Ms Fitzpatrick’s death was the first heroin-related fatality in the city in about a decade.

Granny (49) found dead with heroin syringe by her side (Marie Louise McConville, Irish News) [behind paywall]

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A Catholic man savagely beaten by a loyalist gang wielding hatchets and iron bars last night told how he thought he “was going to die”. Dee Sturgeon (22) described the terrifying moment when up to 10 men burst into the home he shares with his Protestant girlfriend and their 11 week-old daughter in a loyalist area of west Belfast.

“They said ‘you will never be back here again you dirty Fenian bastard.’ Mr Sturgeon said he feared for his life during the brutal assault in Ballygomartin Drive around 9:30pm on Friday. The victim, originally from the Markets area of south Belfast said he was in no doubt that he was targeted because of his religion.


‘I will never feel safe in a Protestant area again’ (Connia Young, Irish News) [behind paywall]

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DUP MLA for South Down Jim Wells receives feedback from the electorate as he attempts to prevent private clinics performing abortions in NI.

A staunch flegger and pro-lifer, what’s not to like?

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BSfHxrGso8&start=172&end=218]

Here’s Jim getting hysterical on a visit to Dundalk in 1986 as his colleague Peter Robinson was appearing in court for his part in a disturbance in Clontibret, Co. Monaghan.

Calm down, dear.

Good times.

Bu4BLDPCUAIJ636Today’s Belfast Telegraph

Una said the psychological impact of her ‘revenge porn’ experience has been immense. “There was times he would say he took it down and then because I still wouldn’t talk to him he said he would upload it again,” she said. “One of the comments he made to me was, ‘well at least you’ll be famous’. “He told me he would send it into my employer, so two weeks into a new job I had to sit down with my manager and have that difficult conversation.”

Sex tape revenge porn hell at hands of jilted ex-boyfriend (Amanda Ferguson, Belfast Telegraph)

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Panti Bliss gave Amnesty’s annual pride lecture in Belfast at the weekend. She also wrote that, before she dies, she’d like to get married in Belfast during the festival

Patrick Corrigan writes:

But how long will she have to wait [to get married in Belfast]? Northern Ireland looks set to become an equality backwater for the LGBTI community as equal marriage for same-sex couples is introduced in the rest of the UK and Ireland (if passed in the constitutional referendum next Spring), but not in NI, as the Stormont’s biggest party, the DUP, continues to block moves to introduce legislation.

Previously: Miss Panti And The Kindness Of Strangers

racism

Patrick Corrigan writes:

“This is how Belfast responds to racism. 8,000 people marched in the torrential rain through the city on Saturday. It was the most ethnically diverse political demonstration Northern Ireland has ever seen. This uplifting video captures the spirit of the day.Would love it if you shared more widely…”