Pro-life rally jubilant as Belfast City Hall not lit in support of abortion campaign: 'What was supposed to be a defeat has turned out to be a victory'

The landmark public building in the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital city was to be illuminated in green to back International Safe Abortion Day, which is marked on September 28 though isn’t officially recognised by the United Nations authorities who set global campaign days.

A DUP challenge to the controversial decision forced the issue down to the wire, with city council officials unable to say whether or not the illumination would happen as late as two hours before dusk.

But to the pleasure of several hundred people gathered outside the front gates of city hall, as the sun went down the building was lit with its standard lights.

There may still be a chance the illumination could happen at a later date, however, and political wrangling over the issue is likely to continue.

The rally began with a march through the centre of Belfast from pro-life group Precious Life, the crowd chanting “we choose life” while waving white lights emblazoned with the slogan.

In fact, two rallies were present; one led by Precious Life with a large billboard and banners erected at city hall’s front gates, and another a short distance away involving the Free Presbyterian church.

Precious Life’s was addressed by DUP, TUV and Aontu politicians, with the group’s founder and director Bernadette Smyth stating the members of the council who voted for the illumination had “shot themselves in the foot”.

She told the crowd: “We have lights here on this building but they are not green, they’re white. It is the light for life, the light of people who refused to be silent, the light of councillors who stood up and challenged the decision.

“This building is a catalyst. This is real angry people; churches are standing up, people are standing up, so it cannot end with just this protest tonight. We have to keep this momentum going.”

Although unionist politicians opposed the abortion campaign lights, they were pushed through on a combination of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance, Green and People Before Profit votes.

Tonight’s rally saw former lord mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly describe that outcome as “an absolutely vile decision”.

Pledging that she and her colleagues would be “the voice for the voiceless”, the DUP politician told the crowd: “Tonight [city hall] is not lit up; the campaign is working, the legal challenge is yet to come back.”

The TUV’s Ron McDowell said the “narrative has changed” over the illumination, stating: “What was supposed to be a defeat has turned out to be a victory.”

He revealed the council was bombarded by messages from people who wanted the lights stopped, stating it was “the single biggest issue” he’s dealt with during his years on the city authority.

“If you’re one of the people that emailed me, it’s your fault people in the Shankill are still waiting,” he quipped.

At the Free Presbyterian protest, moderator Rev Ian Brown said they’d come to “raise witness and be a voice for the voiceless”.

Rev Brown’s own church is in Belfast. He described the city hall plans as “a disgraceful thing”, telling the News Letter: “Commemorating the slaughter of the innocent is reprehensible.”