Cara Malone of Supporting Women Newry – 'protesters with dignity'

Supporting Women Newry does just what it says on the tin.

The group was set up around six months ago by seven local women, and since then it’s gathered an enormous amount of support from the public, health care staff and political parties alike. 

The purpose of the group is to, 'provide free access to health care without fear or intimidation'.

And yes – they support men too – but given their remit it’s most often women who require their help.

They came into being on the back of an awareness of a growing number of anti-abortion protesters harassing people who were trying to access services at John Mitchell Place clinic in Newry. 

These protestors displayed graphic posters along with disturbing and often frankly untrue banners and signs, protesting and blocking entrances, during the hours when abortion clinics operated - alongside all of the other family services in the clinic. 

The Southern Trust moved its services as a result but the protesters – diminished in size but not in voice – followed. 

Cara Malone is one of the committee members and founders of Supporting Women Newry and for this week’s podcast she explains how and why they operate.