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PR: YD Win Court Victory
12.02.2001
In March 1999 a High Court order was granted to the Irish Family Planning Association against Maurice Colgan and other named parties, preventing them from picketing IFPA premises. In August of that year the I.F.P.A. brought an erroneous action to commit Mr. Colgan to prison for allegedly breaking the injunction. Mr. Colgan subsequently began proceedings to the Supreme Court against the I.F.P.A.’s actions and in October of last year (see Irish Times 18th of October 2000) he was successful in his appeal, and the Supreme Courts awarded costs to Mr Colgan, saying he had been improperly brought before the High Court in August 1999. Today in the High Court the IFPA injunction preventing Mr. Colgan, (a member of the anti-abortion group Youth Defence), from picketing the Irish Family Planning Clinics, was lifted.
He was quoted today as saying “under Article 40 of our constitution we as citizens have the right to free assembly and to freely express our opinion. This victory in the courts to-day shows that at least some of the Judiciary are willing to recognise this body of fundamental principles, which in the past have been ignored when dealing with members of the pro-life movement”.
He went on to say that “the legal team representing the I.F.P.A., included the former chairman of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Michael Farrell, who was also recently appointed to the newly established Human Rights Commission. I would like to ask Mr. Farrell whether he would not see it as a breach of civil liberties to prevent someone from expressing their opinion freely.” He also called the Government to clarify whether the human rights of the unborn to be protected by the new Human Rights Commission.
Members of Youth Defence will be meeting tonight to discuss today’s victory and their plan of action for future demonstrations.
End
