THE decision to clear an anti-abortion campaigner of harassing a former Marie Stopes clinic director is a "shocking failure of the system to protect women", according to the pro-choice group.
An attempt by prosecutors to keep in place future restraining orders against Bernadette Smyth was also thrown out yesterday after Judge Gordon Kerr QC ruled ruled there was no basis for imposing the condition.
The high-profile case, which has been running for over a year, led to Ms Smyth (52) being originally convicted of pursuing a campaign against Dawn Purvis.
Following an appeal, the Precious Life chief had her guilty verdict quashed on Monday due to "insufficient evidence".
In a hard-hitting statement, Marie Stopes' UK director of policy last night said the development would lead to women facing crisis pregnancies in the north having "less protection".
"This decision represents a shocking failure of the system both to uphold women's rights and protect women in Northern Ireland, who already face considerable barriers accessing legal healthcare. It will only serve to validate the behaviour of the tiny minority of people who feel it is acceptable to intimidate and harass women and the staff that provide their care," said Genevieve Edwards.
Ms Purvis, who stepped down from her job in April but remains on the body's advisory group for the north, said her court and witness experience over the past 18 months “had not been a good one".
"However, I very much hope the Public Prosecution Service will learn from what went wrong in this case, in order to improve the experience and outcomes for other victims and witnesses appearing in such cases," she added.
Speaking to The Irish News following her departure, the 48-year-old former PUP leader insisted her decision to step down was not linked to the case.
She admitted however that it had been a "stressful" time personally.
The east Belfast woman said her concern remained for the women who accessed the centre's services and are "continually" subjected to abuse as they enter and leave the Great Victoria Street premises.
"Nothing is directed towards me now but it's our clients who are harassed on a weekly basis, it's no secret we are looking for new premises," Ms Purvis said in April.
The court decision to lift the restraining order will now mean that Ms Smyth can continue to lawfully protest outside the Belfast clinic.
Pro-life campaigners have staged demonstrations at the centre which offers sexual healthcare and early medical abortions within the north's strict laws since its opened in October 2012.
Ms Purvis said she was left frightened for her safety following the two alleged incidents, which took place on two dates in January and February last year.
The former director told an appeal hearing at Belfast County Court on Monday that she felt menaced.
But half-way through the hearing, Mrs Smyth's legal team successfully applied to have the case thrown out.
Mrs Smyth was originally also subjected to a five-year restraining order to stop her pestering the alleged victim, and from going within 20 yards of the front door of the clinic.
