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Campaigners at the demonstration yesterday. Norma Burke Media via Facebook

Police in Belfast seize abortion pills and robots from campaigners

The demonstration saw an “abortion robot” deliver abortion pills to a number of women.

POLICE SEIZED ABORTION pills and two robots that were used to give the medicine to campaigners at a demonstration in Belfast.

Demonstrators from a number of groups including the campaign group Rosa – which played a role in the recent Eighth Amendment campaign – attended the event outside a courthouse in Belfast.

The demonstration saw an “abortion robot” – controlled remotely from the Netherlands – deliver abortion pills to women present. The pills are illegal to take in Northern Ireland if a woman is pregnant.

The robot is controlled remotely so that it avoids breaking the law in Northern Ireland, campaigners said.

Police confirmed they seized two small robots along with a number of pills, which were surrendered voluntarily, during the demonstration outside Laganside Court this afternoon.

Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley said

Officers recorded footage of the demonstration, the details of a number of participants and have spoken with one of the event organisers. We will be reviewing the footage to determine whether any offences have been committed, but as we are now investigating this matter, we will not be commenting further.

There was a strong police and media presence reported at the event.

Abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland except in very rare circumstances where the life of a woman is at risk or there is a serious risk to her health.

Growing pressure 

Pressure has been growing in Northern Ireland from campaigners to liberalise the nation’s abortion laws, following Ireland voting overwhelmingly to repeal the Eighth Amendment last week.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has come under pressure on foot of the referendum to introduce legislation to make abortion legal in the North. Northern Ireland’s legislation on abortion is separate to British and Irish law.

Speaking at the event today, Rosa spokesperson Eleanor Crossey Malone said that women in Northern Ireland were taking abortion pills “every single day”.

“As long as we don’t talk about it, as long as we act as though it is a secret, politicians aren’t under pressure to legislate on this issue.

But we’re bringing this issue into the spotlight in order to demand that politicians take action on this immediately.

After the demonstration, campaigners planned to drive the “abortion bus” around Northern Ireland to offer counselling and ultrasounds to women.

Solidarity-PBP TD Ruth Coppinger was also supporting the campaign.

“I’m very happy now to be supporting today’s action, which builds on that work,” she said.

These acts of civil disobedience supplied pregnant people with safe but illegal abortion pills, but they were also instrumental in shifting the debate on abortion.

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    Mute aoife✨
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    Apr 13th 2017, 8:10 AM

    Thoughts and prayers with her family and friends. God rest her. The water in the lake and sea is bitterly cold this time of year. Even strong swimmers can be incapacitated by cold water shock.

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    Mute paddy
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    Apr 13th 2017, 8:15 AM

    Please people/- be cautious around water.RIP. Poor woman.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Apr 13th 2017, 11:51 AM

    Very sad to think that a family out on an Easter weekend break could end so tragically. The second such tragic incident in the past fortnight, a couple drowned from a cruiser in Carrick on Shannon just over a week ago.

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    Mute Jlocoroco
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    Apr 13th 2017, 12:08 PM

    Should’ve been wearing a live jacket

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Apr 13th 2017, 12:13 PM

    @Jlocoroco: true .. it would have saved her ..

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    Mute Donegal Doseofshh
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    Apr 13th 2017, 2:10 PM

    @Jlocoroco: so you know all the details of the incident , do you? You know for a fact that she wasn’t sleepwalking? And you would know to put on your life jacket when you’re sleep walking. Bloody know it all.

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    Mute Donegal Doseofshh
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    Apr 13th 2017, 2:14 PM

    @Jlocoroco: so you know all the details of the incident do you? You know for a fact she wasn’t sleep walking? Would you remember to wear a life jacket on if you were sleep walking? Bloody know at all

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    Mute Donegal Doseofshh
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    Apr 13th 2017, 2:17 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: another know at all that knows everything about this poor girl’s fate. Shame on you

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    Mute Karen Doyle
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    Apr 13th 2017, 3:42 PM

    @Donegal Doseofshh: Well it states in the media that she went out to check the robes before going to bed. She should have been wearing a life jacket, whether asleep or not, if she is on a boat in the water. Hence forth we can assume that she was not sleepwalking, so stop condemning others for your lack of knowledge.

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Apr 13th 2017, 11:39 AM

    A mother of 2 kids from Donegal on a family holiday. Husband dived in to save her but couldn’t find her. RIP.

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    Mute paddy
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    Apr 13th 2017, 9:38 AM

    Now folks THAT is victim blaming!!

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    Mute Mike Holmes
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    Apr 13th 2017, 3:18 PM

    Hard for that man ,to have to watch that.Lord have mercy on his loved one and strengthen him at this time.

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    Mute Mill Lane
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    Apr 13th 2017, 12:04 PM

    @SuzukaYuiMoa:

    If you have to ask that question you should stay away from boats yourself, accidents happen and being able to swim is no guarantee against drowning.

    RIP.

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    Mute James Darby
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    Apr 13th 2017, 12:05 PM

    @SuzukaYuiMoa: the red thumbs are gone and you still managed to collect more red than green, stupid comment. RIP young woman, condolences to her family.

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    Mute Donegal Doseofshh
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    Apr 13th 2017, 12:15 PM

    @SuzukaYuiMoa: disgusting comment which I have requested to be removed. I hope you get what you deserve.

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Apr 14th 2017, 12:42 PM

    RIP

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