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Plans to illuminate Belfast City Hall in support of abortion have been halted after councillors formally challenged the controversial decision.
The landmark building had been due to turn green on Monday to mark International Safe Abortion Day following a motion brought by the Alliance Party and supported by Sinn Féin and the SDLP. The proposal was opposed by the DUP and TUV and attracted a petition signed by more than 20,000 people.
The proposal has only been delayed rather than defeated.
However, the DUP has invoked Belfast City Council’s “call-in” procedure, which allows at least 15 per cent of councillors to demand that a decision be reconsidered on procedural grounds or because of its potential disproportionate impact upon part of the community.
The council confirmed that the challenge had been submitted on both procedural and community impact grounds and said it was seeking legal advice on its merits. The process will not be completed before Monday, meaning the illumination cannot currently proceed.
The proposal followed a request from the National Women’s Council of Ireland connected with International Safe Abortion Day, an international campaign promoting greater access to abortion.
In conjunction with SPUC and other pro-life groups, Precious Life have organised a protest outside City Hall for Monday. Their CEO Bernadette Smyth welcomed the postponement but confirmed that the gathering would still take place, now partly as a celebration of the decision being stopped.
“We’ve seen huge numbers sign petitions, and online polls show huge majorities against this disturbing decision, yet the majority of the Council members wanted to celebrate abortion,” the group said. “That hasn’t changed.”
DUP alderman Dean McCullough, who submitted the challenge, is expected to address the rally alongside TUV councillor Ron McDowell, Aontú representative Aiden Carlin, and campaigner Adele Best.
Precious Life also accused Sinn Féin and the SDLP of adopting contradictory positions on unborn children by supporting baby loss certificates while simultaneously backing the abortion illumination.
“Sinn Fein and SDLP both supported baby loss certificates, which acknowledge the unborn child’s life and the mother’s pain following a miscarriage”, the organisation said. “Now they are celebrating this same loss and calling it ‘safe’.”
For the moment, Belfast City Hall will not turn green for International Safe Abortion Day. But with the council awaiting legal advice rather than abandoning the proposal altogether. The campaign will continue until the illumination is cancelled permanently.
SPUC Executive Director Michael Robinson has commented on the cancellation, saying: “SPUC is very thankful for Dean McCullough’s actions that have prevented this vile pro-death fanfare. We will be joining Precious Life and other pro-lifers in Northern Ireland to both celebrate this victory, but more importantly to show the people of Belfast that abortion will never be safe for the baby who is destroyed in the process. We want the women of the city to know there is a better option: choosing life.”
