Woman ‘prepared to go to prison’ over abortion protest

A woman who was arrested for participating in a protest against abortion outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow has said she is prepared to go to prison for the crime.

Rose Decherty, 74, became the first person to be arrested and accused under a new law that creates damping areas outside the Scottish abortion clinics in February.

She has rejected a formal warning of the crown office, arguing that it was “unfair”, and is waiting to find out what action can be tasks against it.

Hospital doctors previously told BBC Scotland that the protests, which have been held outside the hospital for almost 10 years, were disturbing and intimidating for patients and staff.

The Abortion Services Law (Safe Access Zones) prevents protests or vigils from being carried out within 200 m (650 feet) or 30 clinics throughout the country.

Anyone who breaks the law of damping areas could be acquired up to £ 10,000 or an unlimited amount in more serious cases.

Mrs. Docherty was arrested near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Qeuh) in Glasgow on February 19.

I had a leg holding a signal that said: “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.”

In his first transmission interview from the trial, he said that “he had no reason to regret” the incident.

She told BBC Scotcast that the trial was an “alarm” and “surreal” experience.

Mrs. Docherty added: “I don’t think I was violating the law because I think this law is an unfair law.

“I was standing with a signal indicating the fact that coercion is a crime.

“I was there to talk to people only if they wanted to talk to me. I was approaching anyone, I was sailing in a way that was intimidating or harassing someone.”

Dr. Greg Irwin, a doctor of the QEUH, was photographed by confronting a group of protesters in February 2023, saying that “they cause emotional discomfort to patients, but also to staff members.”

He added: “One in three women will use the medical attention of abortion, so critical protests at the hospital doors have a real and unpleasant effect effectively on these staff members.

“But they also affect other staff, such as me, who find irritating to know that there are protesters outside the hospital by intimidating patients on the way.

“It is such an incredible cruel and unpleasant thing, and it bothers me during the protest period.”

Anti-Bort protests are often linked to the group of 40 days for life, although Mrs. Docherty denied that she was a member of the organization based in the United States.

After his judgment, the crown office sent him a letter containing a formal warning.

He said that the prosecutor had decided not to take Mrs. Docherty before a court and that if she accepted the warning, she would not be prosecuted.

“I said I was in the warning that it was unfair,” he said.

“I would be prepared to go to prison. I have no idea what could happen.

“I am waiting to see what will develop when you return to write to the prosecutor of the attorney, so it depends on them to see what their next step is.”

The Abortion Services Law (safe access zones) entered into force last September.

It was elaborated by the Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who said that the women looking for the procedure were subjected to “totally involuntary abuse and obsstruction” outside hospitals.

It is a criminal crime to deepen in a way that influences women’s and staff decisions to access services within damping areas.

Stop women and staff enter clinics or cause alarm, harassment or anguish is also a crime.

Gillian Mackay said patients and staff had said that they still have to approve protesters by attending the Qeuh and “share an anguish similar to what we hear the approval of the invoice.”

She added: “I think it is appropriate for us to take these concerns seriously and the government analyze whether an extension is appropriate or not.”

Mrs. Docherty denied that there was deliberate who sought to be arrested for advertising, despite the place to do only a few days after the United States vice president, JD Vance, the law said as an example of freedom of expression is Europe “in retirement.”

When asked about patients or staff who feel intimidated by protesters, Mrs. Docherty said: “If they say they feel that way, you should feel like this, I am not in charge of their feelings.

“But I know that my intention is not doing that, I’m standing calmly and silently.”

She added: “We know that women have changed their minds because something has made a break to think.

“Ifey is being influenced, seems to point out the fact that the mind is not invented.”

She said that moving to another place further from the hospital would make the group less visible, which means that their “help sacrifice” was less visible.

“People say we should go to the Scottish Parliament, but it is not where help is needed,” he added.

A spokesman for the fiscal service of the Crown Office and the attorney said: “The prosecutor of the attorney received a report on a 74 -year Oold in relation to an alleged incident on 02/19/2025.

“The report remains under the consideration of the prosecutor of the attorney.”