SPUC presents over 6000 Northern Irish petitioners urging the DUP to bring back Stormont and avert abortion decriminalisation.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has presented a petition today, backed by over 6000 Northern Irish citizens, calling on the Democratic Unionist Party, "the largest pro-life life party", to make one last effort to stop the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland.

After 21 October, the existing abortion law in Northern Ireland, which protects unborn children, will be repealed and the most extreme abortion regime in western Europe will be imposed by Parliament in Westminster. Self-induced abortion, sex-selective abortion and use of illicit abortion drugs, before the 24th week, will not be treated as a criminal offence. 

Only the restoration of devolved government before the October deadline can avert this disaster. SPUC have now presented over 6000 Northern Irish petitioners to Stormont calling on the DUP to challenge other political parties in the Province and restore devolution

SPUC Northern Ireland Political Officer, Liam Gibson said:

"In five weeks this petition has gathered the names of over 6000 people asking the DUP as the largest pro-life party to recall the Assembly. That has now happened and although an executive cannot be formed without the co-operation of Sinn Féin, it is absolutely clear who is responsible for the decriminalisation of abortion and who has at least tried to prevent it. 

"This recall of the Assembly marks what is one of the darkest days in all our troubled history. It is only right that our elected representatives acknowledge this officially. From being amongst the safest places in the world for unborn children, Northern Ireland will now have the most extreme abortion regime in Europe. 

"Abortion is not healthcare. It is an act of lethal violence directed at an innocent child. By forcing abortion on demand on Northern Ireland, Westminster has ridden roughshod over the devolution settlement. Those present in the Assembly today will place on the historical record the opposition of the people of Northern Ireland, from all backgrounds, who object to this terrible and tragic abuse of the parliamentary process. By showing its contempt for the principal of devolution, Westminster May even have dealt a fatal blow to the Good Friday Agreement. 

"The sitting of the Assembly today is, therefore, very important since it marks the significance of what is about to happen. Those who refused to make devolution work or dismiss today’s recall as a stunt are giving tacit support to Westminster’s abuse of power. And everyone who votes for a party which has facilitated the decriminalisation of abortion will share the moral responsibility for the deaths of the children who will be killed as a result of this change in the law. People should bear this in mind at the time of the next election." 

For more information, contact Liam Gibson on

• 02890233061
• 07984990688
• liamgibson@spuc.org.uk