The imposition of zones that ban pro-life activity, including prayer, near facilities providing abortion is a further attempt to silence the voice of unborn children, according to the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Eamon Martin.

He was responding to a decision by the UK Supreme Court last week that found legislation creating exclusion zones outside centres in Northern Ireland that provide or facilitate abortions was not unconstitutional.

Archbishop Martin said: “This is tantamount to enforcing a ban on pro-life activities, including prayer and respectful witness, outside such settings.  Buffer zones will further silence the voice of the innocent unborn.  Given that the law already prevents harassment and intimidation, I believe the new legislation represents a disproportionate response with potentially wide implications for freedom of religion and speech”.