DUP MP Celebrates Court Victory For Woman Arrested For Praying

Carla Lockhart MP • August 28, 2024

Carla Lockhart, Member of Parliament for Upper Bann, has expressed her strong support for Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, following her successful legal challenge after being twice arrested for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. Vaughan-Spruce received a £13,000 payout in acknowledgment of the wrongful arrests, marking a significant victory for religious freedom.

Speaking Carla said, "Well done to my good friend Isabel Vaughan-Spruce. It should never be illegal to pray, and in this case, pray silently! We are a country founded on Christian values, and it is alarming to see these values being suppressed and challenged.”


Carla is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief, emphasised the importance of defending the right to religious expression, particularly in a society built on principles of faith. "This case is a reminder of the need to protect everyone’s religious freedoms, including the right to pray. Isabel's courage in standing up for her beliefs is highly commendable."



This outcome reinforces the importance of upholding fundamental rights, including the freedom to express one's faith peacefully and publicly.


Share

MP urges finance Minister to review publicly funded food procurement for schools in NI

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 25, 2026
DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has criticised the Education Authority for its lack of transparency, following confirmation that halal meat is being unknowingly served in Northern Ireland schools.

Lockhart Calls for Clarity on Single-Sex Spaces

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 25, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has called on the Government to urgently provide clear guidance on the protection of single-sex spaces in workplaces, following a cross-party meeting at Westminster with nurses involved in high-profile legal cases.

Lockhart Supports Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal and Calls for Improved End of Life Care

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has pledged her support for improved palliative and end of life care services following her attendance at Marie Curie ’s Great Daffodil Appeal event in Parliament.

Lockhart Welcomes Strong Turnout for Church Funding Booklet Launch

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed a strong turnout at the launch of her Church Funding Booklet at Oxford Island, with more than 140 people in attendance from churches and faith-based organisations across the constituency and beyond.

Lockhart Welcomes Launch of ‘4ever Mums’ Initiative in Lurgan

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed the launch of a new initiative aimed at supporting women and mothers in Lurgan.

Lockhart Praises Community Support During NI-Wide Hospice Collection

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has praised the generosity of the local community and the dedication of volunteers after taking part in a Northern Ireland-wide Big Bucket Collection in Banbridge in support of Evora Hospice .

Lockhart Attends Series of Community Events Across Upper Bann

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has spent a busy Saturday attending a wide range of community, church and charity events across the constituency.

Lockhart Honours Esther Halliday for 55 Years of Service

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart has paid tribute to Mrs Esther Halliday from Waringstown following an extraordinary 55 years of service within the Health Trust, including more than four decades dedicated to maternity care. 

Lockhart supports call for core standards on UK food imports

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has reaffirmed her support, calling for stronger protections for local farmers, after attending a Westminster reception hosted jointly by the NFU, RSPCA and WWF.

MP highlights need for access to tractor training courses for teenagers at CAFRE

By Carla Lockhart MP • March 24, 2026
Carla Lockhart MP has called for urgent action to expand access to the Safe Operation of Tractors training for young people, warning that current limitations risk undermining vital farm safety efforts.