Lumiere Charity: Breaking News Belfast; Multiple Awards Winner Bernadette Smyth witnesses to the Sanctity of Life

TODAY IN BELFAST MULTIPLE AWARDS WINNER BERNADETTE SMYTH STOOD HUMBLY IN COURT.
2013 Honours Award by the Knights of St Columbanus and 2014 Michael Bell Memorial Award Winner Bernadette Smyth has been working on behalf of unborn children for 17 years.
Bernadette campaigns for the lives of these infants in utero to be spared.
Bernadette first became involved in assisting the unborn in 1997, when she viewed a picture of a baby killed by abortion.
She was inspired to begin on a road to witnessing to the sanctity of life by founding Precious Life, offering sidewalk counselling and assistance to those in pregnancy crisis to access life-saving options.
That road today led into a courtroom where Bernadette was sentenced.
The behaviour of stopping people, questioning them about why they were going into the premises, was deemed direct harassment. [1]

Supporters
Supporters from all over Ireland came today in support of this gracious lady who loves the unborn citizens of our land.
A Judge commended her on Bernadette's impeccable character, and clear record. [2]

Press Release made available today;

'PRESS RELEASE - BERNADETTE SMYTH – UNSAFE CONVICTION
We act for Bernadette Smyth whose Appeal against conviction and sentence is listed before the Recorder of Belfast on 16th January 2015.

   Commenting on the case, Solicitor Aiden Carlin said: “Today marks another step towards justice for Bernadette Smyth who was wrongfully convicted of harassment on 19th November 2014. She was sentenced today to pay £2,000 compensation and received a five-year restraining order to stay away from Dawn Purvis or anyone seeking to enter Marie Stopes. Bernadette Smyth has also been excluded from going within 20 yards of the Belfast clinic. This sentence is also subject of Appeal and has no affect in the meantime.”

   Aiden Carlin continued: “Article 9 of the Convention provides that a person has the right to manifest their religion through teaching. Bernadette Smyth has attended at Great Victoria Street to reach out as a Christian to couples in crisis. In doing so she is exercising her right to impart her faith and has been a visible witness for the Pro-life movement for approximately 17 years. Article 10 of the Convention provides that the person has the right to impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. Again, the subject of these proceedings is a prayer vigil and an outreach on Great Victoria Street in Belfast. Article 11 of the Convention provides for the right of peaceful assembly. Bernadette Smyth was exercising that right on both occasions.”

   Aiden Carlin concluded: “Those who stand and pray outside Marie Stopes and other abortion facilities throughout the UK and Ireland are as much a part of society as the rest. Bernadette Smyth is a very highly respected Christian who has earned public recognition for her tireless work. She has campaigned worldwide on behalf of the unborn for over 17 years. Bernadette Smyth has totally refuted this allegation and invites Christians everywhere to follow the next stage of her landmark case which has the potential to shape how the law is interpreted and applied in future.” '

END
________________________________________
Carlin Solicitors
2 Church Lane
Belfast, BT1 4QN [3]

Cribs Not Left Empty
There are many cribs which have not been left empty over the years due to Bernadette's untiring and selfless work for the unborn and for mothers in pregnancy crisis.
Bernadette has untiringly witnessed to the Sanctity of Unborn Life in all weathers.
She has seen many make life-affirming choices and embrace their pregnancy to term as a gift instead of a burden.
Now, at this time of recollection and thought pending Appeal, it is of value to go back to the beginning of the road that led to today; why did Bernadette feel inspired to assist women to embrace their motherhood and embrace sanctity of unborn life?
And we remember...