Telegram file
Lawyer Lynn Moore speaks to reporters in a file photo.
Last Tuesday an agreement was reached in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court between the Athena Health Clinic, represented by lawyer Lynn Moore, and anti-abortion advocates Patrick Hanlon and Colette Fleming, represented by lawyer Bob Simmonds. The agreement, which extends to every person, dictates a 40-metre buffer zone around the Lemarchant Road clinic in which demonstrations can’t take place.
The buffer zone also applies to the private residences of doctors, nurses and others working at the clinic — a pre-emptive measure, Moore says.
“They haven’t gone to houses here yet, but in other provinces, when buffer zones were introduced, protesters started staging demonstrations outside the homes of the doctors and nurses,” Moore says.
Rolanda Ryan, who owns the Athena clinic, may not have had protesters show up at her home, but they did turn up at her husband’s funeral. Another turned up in the palliative care unit of the hospital during the last hours of Ryan’s mother’s life.
“I was shocked when I looked up and I felt all of my emotions just come to the surface and I didn’t know if I was going to scream or cry,” Ryan told The Telegram two years ago. “I didn’t know what I was going to do so I just got up and walked out.
“I don’t think it was malicious, but I think that somewhere in her brain it should have registered this isn’t appropriate.”
The agreement reached Tuesday also means protesters are not allowed to take photos or video of anyone going into or coming from the clinic, which recently moved and now shares a space with another medical facility; a facility that deals with health issues not related to abortion or pregnancy.
Moore says she and her client had asked for a 100-metre buffer zone.
“Sometimes you have to shoot for the moon and the stars and be happy getting just the moon,” she explains. “Our goal was for all women to access this important health service without harassment or intimidation and we think this 40-metre zone achieves that.”
Simmonds said after court that “common sense” led to the agreement and avoided a lengthy court case. Both sides recognized the need to strike a balance between a person’s right to free speech with a patient’s right to obtain healthcare without intimidation.
Not all local pro-life advocates totally agree, however.
“NL judge today settled suit against two pro-life protesters by imposing 40-metre buffer zone,” one female protester tweeted. “Sad day for unborn.”
Justice Minister Andrew Parsons says he plans to table legislation prohibiting protests outside abortion clinics.
