THE SDLP has suspended three Belfast councillors from the party for abstaining on a motion condemning harassment outside family planning facilities.
Declan Boyle, Pat Convery and Kate Mullan were the only councillors present during Monday night's council meeting who did not vote in support of the motion.
The motion said people "should not face fear and intimidation when accessing healthcare services".
It continued: "Therefore, the council condemns all harassment and intimidation taking place outside facilities in Belfast and Northern Ireland that offer reproductive healthcare, including attempts to physically block access to facilities, verbal intimidation, and the filming and recording of staff and clients entering and leaving the building."
Proposing the motion, Green Party councillor Georgina Milne said: "This discussion is not about 'pro-choice' or 'pro-life', it's about harassment."
She said those using reproductive healthcare facilities are "forced to run a gauntlet past leaflets, past placards, past verbal coercion, past intimidating behaviour, and past harassment".
As part of the suspensions, Mr Convery has been removed as the SDLP's council group leader and Ms Mullan as deputy group leader.
It means Mr Convery loses an additional allowance of almost £5,000 he received for being the party's group leader on Belfast City Council.
It's also understood the party whip has been withdrawn from all three, meaning they now sit on the council in effect as independents.
