News

Derry Girls actors march on Westminster for NI abortion rights

Nicola Coughlan and Siobhan McSweeney joined women MPs to deliver an Amnesty petition supporting the decriminalisation of abortion to the Northern Ireland office

Derry Girls

Derry Girls and Big Issue cover stars Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan marched on Westminster today to demand abortion rights for Northern Ireland.

The actors, from the Republic of Ireland themselves, joined women MPs to form a group of 28 who made their way across Westminster Bridge to the Northern Ireland office – representing the people forced to travel from Northern Ireland to England and Wales each week for an abortion.

McSweeney said: “I’m marching my suitcase to parliament for my sisters’ in Northern Ireland right to an abortion.

“Politicians and legislators are not doing their job, frankly. It’s a sorry state of affairs when somebody off the telly has to come and tell people to do their job.”

Each protester in the Amnesty International-led demonstration carried the names of 62,000 people who backed the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland. Amnesty figures show that 65 per cent of adults there support the cause.

Currently, people can only get abortions in Northern Ireland if childbirth could put their life or wellbeing seriously at risk.

Coughlan, who plays Clare Devlin, joined demonstrators carrying “Abortion is not a crime – #NowForNI” placards. She recently tweeted: “I’ve known so many women who’ve suffered because of these Draconian laws.”

At the event, she added that “The government should be dealing with this. People keep acting like Northern Ireland is somebody else’s problem.

“The people in the Republic of Ireland have access to this type of healthcare now. The rest of the UK have access to this kind of healthcare now. Why is nobody dealing with this?

“We’re just trying to draw attention to this issue and how archaic and ridiculous it is that nobody’s dealing with this.”

The politicians marching included Labour MP for Kingston Upon Hull North Diana Johnson, Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine and former Tory MP Heidi Allen, who recently defected to the Independent Group.

A group of counter-protesters assembled nearby.

More than 900 women travelled from Northern Ireland to England for abortions in 2017-18.

The Derry Girls cast previously spoke to The Big Issue about using their platforms for good, the causes that mean the most to them and more – read the full interview in this week’s magazine.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
I started doing crime by age 6. I didn't know any other life – all my birthdays were in prison
Crime

I started doing crime by age 6. I didn't know any other life – all my birthdays were in prison

Local housing allowance is finally going up. But is it anything more than just a short-term fix?
Jeremy Hunt announced local housing allowance rise
Benefits

Local housing allowance is finally going up. But is it anything more than just a short-term fix?

Calls to nationalise Thames Water as Brits face 40% increase in bills: 'A con and a disgrace'
Water bills

Calls to nationalise Thames Water as Brits face 40% increase in bills: 'A con and a disgrace'

Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Easter holidays?
Free school meals/ Easter holidays
Free school meals

Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Easter holidays?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know