Northern Ireland

Pro-choice protesters who 'bought abortion pills online' hand themselves in to police

Diana King (71) Colette Devlin (68) and Kitty O'Kane (69) are members of Choice Alliance in Derry 
Diana King (71) Colette Devlin (68) and Kitty O'Kane (69) are members of Choice Alliance in Derry  Diana King (71) Colette Devlin (68) and Kitty O'Kane (69) are members of Choice Alliance in Derry 

THREE women from Derry who claimed they bought abortion pills online handed themselves in to police.

The women handed themselves in to Strand Road PSNI station in the city, claiming they had bought the pills and gave them to pregnant women or had taken them themselves.

Speaking on a video posted on Rally For Choice Ireland's Facebook page, one of the women said only those who could afford to travel to Britain could obtain an abortion.

"There's a climate of fear resulting from Stormont and the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) hounding women when they are at their most vulnerable," she said.

"I don't want to believe that our politicians will allow this to continue but I fear they will, so it's up to us to keep campaigning."

Pro-choice protesters also held a small rally outside Queen's University in Belfast as First Minister Arlene Foster gave a lecture.

Campaign group Fight4Equality called on Mrs Foster to show "real leadership" and change the north's abortion laws in line with Britain.

They left the station a few hours after the protest.

It is understood their cases will now be referred to the Public Prosecution Service

Campaign spokesperson Courtney Robinson said: "She should listen to the large majority who think our abortion laws are archaic and give women access to safe, free and legal abortion."