Positive Justice

Since the opening of the Marie Stopes Belfast facility,  Bernadette and others from Precious Life had gathered outside it in order to educate the public about the true  nature of abortion. Bernadette, however, was accused and later convicted  of harassing Ms Dawn Purvis who oversaw the facility.

In December, Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes   ordered Bernadette Smyth to pay £2,000 in compensation  to Ms Purvis, to undertake 100 hours of community service  and not to go within 20 yards of the abortion facility for a  five year period. Yesterday, Judge Gordon Kerr overturned the conviction,  ruling that there had been insufficient evidence of harassment.