First private abortion clinic in Ulster to open The new Ulster clinic has already proved controversial, with an anti-abortion group calling for it to be shut down. But Marie Stopes hailed the opening as "great news for the people of Northern Ireland." Dawn Purvis, programme director at Marie Stopes Northern Ireland, said: "We will be able to meet their family planning and sexual health needs in a way that has not been seen here before. We have a new, purpose built, centrally-located specialist centre, our team are highly trained and dedicated health care professionals and our services will be delivered in a confidential, sensitive and non-judgmental way. Marie Stopes International is well known for focusing on offering services where they are needed most and a centre like ours has never existed before in Northern Ireland. We know that people here want this kind of world class service. As well as offering medical abortion, the centre will offer a range of sexual and reproductive services, including contraception, HIV testing, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and ultrasound scanning. But Precious Life, an anti-abortion organisation, said the announcement about the Belfast clinic was "a matter for the police and courts." Bernadette Smyth, the director of the group, said: "Any attempt to start killing unborn children in Northern Ireland will fail. Anyone who kills an unborn child in Northern Ireland is committing an illegal criminal act. We remain confident that anyone who tries to perform abortions in Northern Ireland will be brought to justice. She claimed the "pro-abortion movement" was "riding rough-shod over the views of the vast majority of people here." The organisation plans to contact the police, public prosecution service, the attorney general and the Department of Health to "ensure the law here is rigorously enforced." Marie Stopes International will operate in Belfast from next Thursday.