Belfast City Council votes again to illuminate City Hall in support of abortion

Belfast City Council has voted to illuminate City Hall in support of abortion on Easter Sunday next year, just weeks after a previous attempt was blocked following a challenge by DUP councillors.

At a meeting on Monday 2 November, councillors voted 36 to 14 in favour of lighting up the building on 28 March 2027, coinciding with Easter Sunday and the Global Day of Action to De-stigmatise Abortion.

The proposal was supported by Sinn Féin, Alliance, the SDLP, Greens and People Before Profit, while the DUP and UUP opposed it.

In September, the council had agreed to illuminate City Hall green for International Safe Abortion Day. However, the decision was blocked following a formal challenge by DUP councillors over the council's failure to carry out the necessary equality screening.

More than 20,000 people had signed a petition opposing the original plans.

DUP alderman Dean McCullough criticised the renewed proposal, particularly its timing during Holy Week.

"It was an insensitive proposal initially, so to then request another on what is arguably the holiest week in the Christian calendar makes it even more insensitive, if that is possible," he said.

"For many, turning City Hall into effectively an abortion billboard was simply a step too far."

Despite opposition, councillors have now approved the new illumination for Easter Sunday 2027. The decision follows weeks of controversy over whether Belfast's most prominent civic building should be used to promote abortion, an issue which remains deeply divisive in Northern Ireland.