A man and a woman have become the first people to be charged with an illegal abortion protest, a court has heard.
Under recent legislation which designates “safe access zones”, Claire Brennan (52) of Doneysheil Road in Rasharkin and David Hall (39) of Kingsbury Gardens Coleraine were jointly charged with two offences at Coleraine Magistrates Court.
Brennan entered not guilty pleas to the two offences.
Defence solicitor Aidan Carlin explained Hall was an inpatient in hospital, so was not in attendance, but was entering guilty pleas.
In the first case of its kind in Northern Ireland, a prosecuting lawyer outlined how police were called to Causeway hospital on October 3 last year following reports two people were protesting within a safe access zone.
Despite “clear signage”, officers found an anti-abortion sign on display and tried to engage with the pair who said they were “morally obligated to protest”.
Both were arrested after they finally agreed to leave the zone but not taken into custody, the court heard.
Lodging a plea in mitigation on behalf of Hall, Mr Carlin said he has a “complicated background” adding “my client has mobility issues...he is confined to a wheelchair and has the benefit of a social worker and support worker”.
“No particular person complained and police handled the matter very sensitively. Police tried to deal with it by caution, unsuccessfully,” he said.
Commenting “this is the first time there has been a prosecution of this nature before the court,” District Judge Peter King said taking into account of the early guilty plea, he was imposing fines totalling £250 along with a £15 offender levy.
In relation to Brennan, the judge adjourned her case to May 31.