The Irish public has voted to repeal key constitutional protections for the right to life of the unborn child.
Voters in the Republic of Ireland were asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as to whether they wanted the current protections under the constitution’s Eighth Amendment to be removed.
The result was announced shortly after 6pm, with the Yes vote winning by 66.4 per cent to 33.6 per cent.
‘Tragedy’
Pro-life campaign group Save the 8th had led the opposition, and a statement released after the result described it as “a tragedy of historic proportions”.
The group remained defiant in defeat, saying that it will oppose the Irish Government as it tries to legislate, adding that “if and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland”, it would also oppose them.
The statement concluded: “Abortion was wrong yesterday. It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not.”
Abortion on demand
Dr Ruth Cullen from the LoveBoth campaign, also expressed her deep sadness, saying the result has paved the way for “an abortion regime which has nothing to do with healthcare and everything to do with abortion on demand”.
“Abortion was wrong yesterday. It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not.” Save The 8th
She said she and other campaigners would hold the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to his promise that repeal “would only lead to abortion in very limited circumstances.
“He gave his word on this, and now he must deliver on it. No doubt many people voted for repeal based on the Taoiseach’s promises in this regard”.