Thousands join opposing rallies on abortion law change

By Aoife Moore, PA

Thousands of people on both sides of the abortion debate took to the streets of Belfast on Saturday.

The Rally for Choice gathered at Writer's Square in support of recent Westminster legislation to change abortion law.

🎥 Rally for Choice, Belfast #RallyForChoice @RallyforChoice pic.twitter.com/m5rxUxadlj

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 7, 2019

In July, MPs passed the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act, which contained a provision placing a duty on the Government to regulate to provide for access to abortion in Northern Ireland.

It comes into effect if the Stormont executive is not restored by October 21, with regulations required to be in place by the end of March.

🎥 Bernadette McAliskey at Rally for Choice in Belfast - “2 big demos...new dividing line.” #RallyforChoice pic.twitter.com/cYS13vc3kR

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 7, 2019

Marchers held signs and posters which read: "The north is now" - which has become a rallying cry for pro-choice activists after the Republic of Ireland's landslide referendum to liberalise their own abortion laws in 2018.

Grainne Teggart, of Amnesty International, said the rights of women can no longer be denied.

She added: "Today's rally comes at a critical time. Following recent law reform at Westminster we will soon have decriminalisation of abortion and free, safe and legal and local services.

"For those facing prosecution this cannot come quickly enough.

"After many years of fighting, we are finally getting the equality we deserve. Any return to Stormont before October 21 must only happen with agreement on abortion reform on exactly the same terms as has been secured at Westminster.

"These rights have been long and hard-fought for, and we will not accept our rights being sacrificed for political expediency.

"The north is now - we are determined to make this a reality."

Speaking after attending the demonstration, Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said: "Current legislation in the north is failing women and remains incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

"The issue of women's healthcare should be dealt with through legislative change.

"The first step in this process should be the repeal of draconian British legislation which criminalises women."

The March For Their Lives, an anti-abortion rally, gathered at the nearby Custom House Square.

🎥 March for their Lives rally sets off from Custom House Square in Belfast #MarchForTheirLives pic.twitter.com/RBfTFeFOJz

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 7, 2019

Baroness O'Loan, a former police ombudsman, spoke at the anti-abortion rally, where she laid blame for the imposition of new abortion legislation on Northern Ireland's "absentee" politicians, decrying the lack of an executive sitting at Stormont to represent the public.

🎥 Baroness Nuala O’Loan at March for their Lives rally in Belfast - “tell your politicians go back to Stormont and stop abortion.” #MarchForTheirLives pic.twitter.com/CAnh652I6e

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 7, 2019

She has previously said that the Westminster vote was a "denial of democracy".

On Friday night, thousands of people staged a silent demonstration at Stormont against the planned liberalisation of abortion laws.

Protesters gathered at the front gates of the estate before walking up Prince of Wales Avenue to Parliament Buildings.

They stood in silence, with heads bowed and holding lights, for six minutes, to represent the six counties in Northern Ireland.