News Release
Press conference on age of consent
Diary date:
Press conference on age of consent
Thursday, 17 April 2008, 1.00pm
The Barnett Suite, Stormont Hotel,
Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3LP
PICTURE ATTACHED: OFMDFM Minister, Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA, (pictured right) at Stormont receiving a hand-delivered letter signed by key stake holders expressing opposition to NIO plans to lower the age of consent from 17 to 16. Pictured (left to right): Callum Webster, Northern Ireland Officer The Christian Institute; Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA, junior minister OFMDFM.
The letter reads: “We the undersigned express our strong opposition to the plans by The Northern Ireland Office to lower the age of consent for sexual activity. We call upon the First Minister and the Assembly to resist the imposition of this legislation on Northern Ireland.”
Signatories to the letter are: Dr Richard Barr, Director, Love for Life; Eileen Calder, Director, Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Centre, Northern Ireland; Fred Corscadden, Chairman, Northern Ireland Association of Christian Teachers; Chloe Hemphill, Director, Girls Brigade Northern Ireland; Philip Hewitt, Adviser for RE and Personal Development, North Eastern Education & Library Board; Prof Norman Nevin, President, Boys Brigade Northern Ireland; and Callum Webster, Northern Ireland Officer, The Christian Institute.
Speakers at the press conference will include signatories of the letter. Speakers are:
Jim Wells MLA – DUP
Danny Kennedy MLA – UUP
Pat Ramsey MLA – SDLP
Prof Norman Nevin – President of the Boys Brigade
Dr Dickie Barr – Director of Love for Life
Eileen Calder – Director of NI Rape Crisis Centre
Callum Webster – Northern Ireland Officer, The Christian Institute
Statements will also be read out from:
Cllr Kieran McCarthy MLA (Alliance, Strangford)
Mrs Chloe Hemphill (Director, The Girls Brigade, NI)