American pro-life clinic opens in Northern Ireland

The aim of a new American anti-abortion healthcare clinic in Belfast is to “close the door” of the controversial Marie Stopes centre permanently, according to pro-life campaigners.

The Stanton Healthcare Belfast opened today on Great Victoria Street - the same street as the Marie Stopes centre, which has been the centre of a fierce debate over the status of abortion under Northern Irish law.

Currently - unlike the rest of the UK - abortion is still illegal in Northern Ireland except in rare cases where the life of the mother is in danger. But a vociferous campaign is under way to bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK.

Attempts to tighten abortion laws in the Northern Ireland Assembly, in Stormont, failed this summer - although Northern Irish women wishing to abort a child must still travel to mainland UK to carry out the procedure.

Belfast pro-life campaigners Precious Life continue to campaign outside the Marie Stopes clinic and its director, Bernadette Smyth, was given 100 hours community service last December for harassing the manager of Marie Stopes at the time, Dawn Purvis. Her conviction was later overturned on appeal.

The clinic is the first facility that Stanton Healthcare - which says it is a faith-based organisation but not affiliated to any Christian denomination - has opened outside the US. It currently has clinics in Idaho and California. Stanton Healthcare describes itself as "a revolutionary organisation that seeks to replace abortion businesses around the world".

Pro-life campaigners have been picketing the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast since it opened in 2012 (PA)

It claims that over 90 per cent of what they describe as "abortion-vulnerable women" who have ultrasound scans at their clinic in Boisie, Idaho, choose to give birth.

Mrs Smyth, whose campaign group has worked closely with Stanton Healthcare to bring the clinic to Belfast, said: “It is an historic day for the pro-life movement in Northern Ireland.

"Since the opening of Marie Stopes in Belfast, women in Northern Ireland have been exploited and used by greedy abortion providers who care more about making profit than they do about supporting vulnerable women.

"Stanton Healthcare will offer a much needed alternative at no cost because we believe that women and their unborn children deserve better than abortion.”

Republican US Congressman Chris Smith, a Roman Catholic, who is considered to be one of the strongest opponents of abortion in the US House of Representatives flew over to support the opening.

"We have a number of clinics in the states and the value of what Bernadette can offer, you can’t put a price tag on it," he said.

"It’s a refuge, women can find tangible help and very loving individuals to help with their difficulty."

TOP PICTURE - US Congressman Chris Smith with Bernadette Smyth and Brandi Swindell, right, the CEO and founder of Stanton Healthcare