Clock ticking as DUP launches last-ditch bid to stop Belfast City Hall being lit as 'abortion billboard'

The landmark building is to be illuminated in green near the end of this month to mark International Safe Abortion Day, a move that has caused controversy with pro-life activists planning to protest the event.

Initially voted through without debate at a committee level, last week the DUP brought the issue to the floor of the full council in an attempt to stop it. Despite unionists speaking out against the move, however, it was pushed through on a combination of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance, Green and People Before Profit votes.

Now the Democratic Unionists have lodged a ‘call-in’ of the decision, which could see it brought back for another round of debates or even stopped altogether.

A call-in has to be run by council lawyers first to make sure it matches correct criteria, and if it does it can be put into effect.

As the light-up is scheduled for September 28, it means the clock is ticking with roughly two and a half weeks to go until the day of the illumination.

If lawyers decide the call-in is valid, it could be an uphill struggle for the light-up’s supporters to deal with the consequences before that deadline, effectively blocking it.

If legal opinion comes back saying the move isn’t valid, however, city hall would almost certainly go green in support of the abortion campaign. Similarly, if lawyers don’t come to a conclusion on the call-in before September 28, the light-up might take place.

The council’s DUP group leader Sarah Bunting told the News Letter she hopes to get word back from lawyers before the deadline day.

“Having opposed this proposal at both committee and full council, we believe it is important to ensure that all avenues are explored,” she said.

"Decisions like this by parties in city hall must be investigated on both procedural and community impact grounds.

“It seems likely that a decision will be taken before the proposed date to light up city hall, but this process will establish a factual position around the application and any others that might come forward in the future.”

The call-in was lodged by the party’s Dean McCullough, who in a post on social media stated: “We will use every democratic and legal means at our disposal to stop Belfast City Hall becoming an abortion billboard. The DUP will continue to stand for life.”

International Safe Abortion Day is spearheaded by Philippines-based organisation the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights. It originated in 1990 in South America, though two decades later was taken up by global activists.

The day calls on governments to expand access to terminations by increasing the time limits under which they can be carried out, and removing the likes of mandatory waiting periods, “biased counselling” and third-party authorisations that could cause delays in procedures.

It also demands global institutions fund safe abortion services and give money to “grassroots and feminist organisations, especially those led by women, youth, LGBTQ+, and key populations”.

Belfast Council documents state the request to mark the day came from the National Women’s Council of Ireland, a cross-border umbrella body headquartered in Dublin.