Anti-abortion campaigner is found guilty of harassment - will this verdict have any impact on the right to protest?

Nov 20, 2014, 10:07 AM

The founder of Precious Life, Bernie Smyth, has been found guilty of harassing Marie Stopes director Dawn Purvis. The anti abortion campaigner has been warned she could face a jail sentence.

The case centred around protests at Marie Stopes. It's the first private clinic to offer early medical abortions to women in Northern Ireland. Dawn Purvis said she had been frightened for her safety following two incidents.

The question is should pickets at Marie Stopes and similar organisations be halted or at least seriously restricted? Or would that interfere with the right to protest?