Northern Ireland's Attorney General has called for an investigation into the opening of the country's first private abortion clinic.

John Larkin, who is the chief legal adviser to the Stormont Executive, has written to the justice committee asking it look into the practices of the new facility which officially opens on Thursday.

The request comes as up to 150 anti-abortion activists gathered to protest outside the Marie Stopes centre on Belfast's Great Victoria Street.

abortion marie stopes

Northern Ireland's attorney general has called for an investigation into the opening of the country's first private abortion clinic


Protesters carrying placards, some showing graphic images of foetuses, have sung hymns and prayed throughout the morning.

Daire Fitzgerald, 51, travelled from Dublin to take part. He said: "I was shocked to hear that Marie Stopes is opening in Ireland. There is no need. It is just horrible that they have moved here - people on both sides of the border do not want this."

The new facility will offer terminations up to nine weeks' gestation, each costing £450.

In Northern Ireland abortion is strictly controlled. The procedure is only permitted if the life or mental health of the mother is at serious risk.

Dawn Purvis, director of Marie Stopes Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted to be opening today and look forward to welcoming people into our world class sexual and reproductive health centre this afternoon. For the first time, the people of Northern Ireland can visit a single health centre for information, advice and help with contraception, HIV and sexually transmitted infections and – when the legal requirements are met -early medical abortion."

A spokesman for the attorney general's office confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Stormont justice committee's DUP chairman, Paul Givan.

abortion marie stopes

A spokesman for the attorney general's office confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Stormont justice committee's DUP chairman


In it, Mr Larkin said he was not allowed to intervene in an official capacity but could offer advice, act as counsel and interview witnesses in a non-statutory role as guardian of the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Marie Stopes has insisted its new centre, which is headed by former Progressive Unionist Party MLA Dawn Purvis, will operate within the current legal framework, providing medical not surgical terminations up to nine weeks' gestation with aftercare including counselling.

Bernadette Smyth, from the Precious Life lobby group which organised the anti-abortion, said: "There is no will for Marie Stopes to be here, they are not welcome here. The people here want to make a stand. Unborn children here are precious and there is no will for abortion to be legalised here from the people or politicians. It's clear that unborn children are protected here.

"We are still seeking legal advice. I would not rule out an injunction. I am still working with the justice system and our politicians to ensure that Marie Stopes does not take the lives of any unborn children."

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  • BRITIAN-NIRELAND-ABORTION

    Police walk around abortion protestors holding up placards outside the Marie Stopes clinic, the first private clinic to offer abortions to women in Belfast, Northern Ireland on October 18, 2012. Dozens of pro-life campaigners protested outside the first abortion clinic in Northern Ireland as it opened to the public. Around 50 protesters brandishing placards saying 'Life is precious' and showing photographs of foetuses gathered outside the privately run clinic in an anonymous building in Belfast. AFP PHOTO/ Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

  • BRITIAN-NIRELAND-ABORTION

    Police walk around abortion protestors hold up placards outside the Marie Stopes clinic, the first private clinic to offer abortions to women in Belfast, Northern Ireland on October 18, 2012. Dozens of pro-life campaigners protested outside the first abortion clinic in Northern Ireland as it opened to the public. Around 50 protesters brandishing placards saying 'Life is precious' and showing photographs of foetuses gathered outside the privately run clinic in an anonymous building in Belfast. AFP PHOTO/ Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

  • BRITIAN-NIRELAND-ABORTION

    A woman pushing a pram takes part in a demonstration outside the Marie Stopes Clinic, Northern Ireland's first abortion clinic, in Belfast, on October 18, 2012. Dozens of pro-life campaigners protested outside the first abortion clinic in Northern Ireland as it opened to the public on Thursday. AFP PHOTO/ Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Protesters opposed to abortion hold placards outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, 18, 2012. The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland has opened in Belfast, sparking protests by Christian conservatives from both the Catholic and Protestant sides of Northern Ireland’s divide. The Marie Stopes center plans to offer the abortion pill to women less than nine weeks pregnant _ but only if doctors determine they’re at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy. That’s the law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is otherwise illegal. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • A protester opposed to abortion holds a placard outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, 18, 2012. The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland has opened in Belfast, sparking protests by Christian conservatives from both the Catholic and Protestant sides of Northern Ireland’s divide. The Marie Stopes center plans to offer the abortion pill to women less than nine weeks pregnant _ but only if doctors determine they’re at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy. That’s the law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is otherwise illegal. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • Protesters opposed to abortion hold placards outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, 18, 2012. The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland has opened in Belfast, sparking protests by Christian conservatives from both the Catholic and Protestant sides of Northern Ireland’s divide. The Marie Stopes center plans to offer the abortion pill to women less than nine weeks pregnant _ but only if doctors determine they’re at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy. That’s the law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is otherwise illegal. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • A protester opposed to abortion demonstrates outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, 18, 2012. The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland has opened in Belfast, sparking protests by Christian conservatives from both the Catholic and Protestant sides of Northern Ireland’s divide. The Marie Stopes center plans to offer the abortion pill to women less than nine weeks pregnant _ but only if doctors determine they’re at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy. That’s the law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is otherwise illegal. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • Protesters opposed to abortion hold placards outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, 18, 2012. The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland has opened in Belfast, sparking protests by Christian conservatives from both the Catholic and Protestant sides of Northern Ireland’s divide. The Marie Stopes center plans to offer the abortion pill to women less than nine weeks pregnant _ but only if doctors determine they’re at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy. That’s the law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is otherwise illegal. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic opens

    Tracey McNeill, Vice President and Director, Marie Stopes UK and Europe, in Belfast, today.

  • Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic opens

    Pro life campaigners outside Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast which opens today.

  • Protesters opposed to abortion hold placards outside the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, 18, 2012. The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland has opened in Belfast, sparking protests by Christian conservatives from both the Catholic and Protestant sides of Northern Ireland’s divide. The Marie Stopes center plans to offer the abortion pill to women less than nine weeks pregnant _ but only if doctors determine they’re at risk of death or long-term health damage from their pregnancy. That’s the law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is otherwise illegal. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

  • Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic opens

    Pro life campaigners outside Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast which opens today.

  • Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic opens

    Pro life campaigners outside Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast which opens today.