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Irish abortion referendum: official results show big lead for yes – live Irish abortion referendum: official results show big lead for yes – live
(35 minutes later)
Rain has started at Dublin Castle, and people are fleeing to shelter at the edges or pulling out umbrellas, reports Sinéad Baker.
But very few people are leaving. Everyone remains eager to hear the final announcement.
Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland campaigns manager, has written for the Guardian on the urgent need to now reform the abortion law there, which dates back to 1861 – literally from the Victorian era – and makes abortion illegal in almost every circumstance, even in cases of rape or fatal foetal abnormalities:
With legislation soon to follow Saturday’s result in Ireland, we may soon see women in Northern Ireland catching trains over the border rather than planes over the sea for this healthcare. But we’ll still be forced on those lonely and difficult journeys.
The UK government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this absurd situation. Westminster has the power and responsibility to bring Northern Ireland abortion law in to line with human rights standards, but is choosing instead to be complicit in our harm and suffering and is continuing to deny us equality.
For the past 16 months, Northern Ireland has been without devolved government. But this is no excuse - having a Stormont government in place would not relieve the UK government of its responsibility to ensure that women’s right to abortion is upheld. Devolution is no justification for the denial of women’s rights.
A free abortion service in England is a helpful form of remedy, but it’s not the solution. In parallel with this, we must also see a process to bring about long overdue law reform in Northern Ireland.
It is important to remember that it’s the most vulnerable and marginalised women who are unable to travel and left most at risk by the current laws. We’re talking about women who have experienced domestic violence, women without confirmed immigration status, young girls who can’t fly without an adult, and those with health complications.
Sky’s Darren McCaffrey in Donegal has a similar report to RTÉ’s from East Cork: it looks like the results from the last three constituencies (Sligo-Leitrim is the third) will be announced alongside or after the final national result.
The overall outcome, though, is not in any doubt: unofficial but generally accurate tallies suggest Donegal is the only constituency to have voted no, with yes looking a comfortable winner in East Cork and Sligo-Leitrim.
Bizarrely the Returning Officer in Donegal has been told she is not allowed to announce the result until after the national declaration. Seems all rather odd because she has the result! 🇮🇪🗳#the8th
Here is the Guardian’s full video report on the day that fully two-thirds of Ireland’s voters backed the repeal of article 40.3.3, which since 1983 has effectively prohibited abortion in almost all cases:
The crowd at Dublin Castle cheers as Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald holds up a sign saying “The North is next ...” reports Sinéad Baker.
We’re still waiting on the final three constituencies: Cork East, Sligo-Leitrim, and Donegal, which observers are predicting may be the only one to back no.We’re still waiting on the final three constituencies: Cork East, Sligo-Leitrim, and Donegal, which observers are predicting may be the only one to back no.
RTÉ is reporting that the Cork County returning officer has closed the count centre in Ballincollig. The results for Cork East have reportedly been sent to Dublin Castle and will be announced after the national result.
Peter Boylan, leading yes campaigner and chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, gets a hero’s welcome in Dublin Castle, with the crowd chanting “Peter, Peter, Peter”.Peter Boylan, leading yes campaigner and chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, gets a hero’s welcome in Dublin Castle, with the crowd chanting “Peter, Peter, Peter”.
Boylan came under fierce attack from some institute members when he claimed that the majority supported repeal, a claim he stood by earlier this month.Boylan came under fierce attack from some institute members when he claimed that the majority supported repeal, a claim he stood by earlier this month.
Offered without comment:Offered without comment:
Minister for health Simon Harris seems to have won over a lot of young hearts and minds with this campaign #8thref pic.twitter.com/wg5FdFdo4gMinister for health Simon Harris seems to have won over a lot of young hearts and minds with this campaign #8thref pic.twitter.com/wg5FdFdo4g
The 18-to-24 age group in Ireland has been strongly pro-repeal and many young people have contacted the Guardian.The 18-to-24 age group in Ireland has been strongly pro-repeal and many young people have contacted the Guardian.
One of them, Olivia Malone, 18, a student from County Wexford, canvassed during her exams for the yes campaign:One of them, Olivia Malone, 18, a student from County Wexford, canvassed during her exams for the yes campaign:
I graduated on Thursday, and was out with most of my year group till the early hours of the morning. I had a great time, but what worried me was whether my all girl’s school would drag themselves out to vote the next day.I graduated on Thursday, and was out with most of my year group till the early hours of the morning. I had a great time, but what worried me was whether my all girl’s school would drag themselves out to vote the next day.
Yet on Friday morning I woke up to texts in the 6th Year group chat - the girls were all encouraging each other to vote. The youth involvement in this has been unlike any other election I’ve ever witnessed. I’m floating on cloud nine.Yet on Friday morning I woke up to texts in the 6th Year group chat - the girls were all encouraging each other to vote. The youth involvement in this has been unlike any other election I’ve ever witnessed. I’m floating on cloud nine.
I’m totally astonished by the massive landslide. The general feeling among strong yes campaigners recently was cautious hope, and I know most that I’ve talked to predicted a yes vote in the 50s, but this is beyond anything I can imagine.I’m totally astonished by the massive landslide. The general feeling among strong yes campaigners recently was cautious hope, and I know most that I’ve talked to predicted a yes vote in the 50s, but this is beyond anything I can imagine.
If you’d like to share your reaction, you can do so here.If you’d like to share your reaction, you can do so here.
Dublin Bay South votes 78.49% yes, 21.51% no.Dublin Bay South votes 78.49% yes, 21.51% no.
That leaves three constituencies still to declare.That leaves three constituencies still to declare.
The taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has just tweeted this picture of himself and the expectant crowd at Dublin Castle:
Fantastic crowds at Dublin Castle. Remarkable day. A quiet revolution has taken place, a great act of democracy. pic.twitter.com/MLtzkSkdLw
The Irish comedian David O’Doherty is at Dublin castle for the announcement, reports Sinéad Baker.
He remembers growing up in an Ireland where most parts of the country voted against permitting divorce in 1995:
I always thought there was two Irelands ... but that died yesterday. It died with marriage equality and then it really died yesterday.
Cork South West is 64.51% yes, 35.49% no
Dublin Mid-West 73.27% yes, 26.73% no
Kerry 58.27% yes, 41.73% no
The crowd at Dublin Castle is cheering on the politicians that have been particularly active on the yes side of this campaign, including Leo Varadkar and health minister Simon Harris, says Sinéad Baker:
Seven constituencies remain: Kerry, Sligo-Leitrim, Cork South-West, Cork East, Dublin Mid-West, Dublin Bay South and Donegal, which observers are suggesting might be the only one to vote against repealing the eighth amendment.
I must be in the only count centre in Ireland where NO ONE is celebrating 🤦‍♀️ #Donegal #abortionreferendum #Letterkenny pic.twitter.com/fQL33jxQPo
With half a dozen constituencies left to declare, Ireland is turning purple:
This is quite a sight on historic day. pic.twitter.com/aMfaGUnqVR
More results:
Cavan-Monaghan 55.5% yes, 44.5% no
Mayo 57.07% yes, 42.93% no
And the Taoiseach has arrived at Dublin Castle, says RTE2’s man on the spot:
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arriving at Dublin Castle #8thRef pic.twitter.com/VOUHYQ27VW
Readers in Northern Ireland have been contacting the Guardian urging abortion reform there. Aoibhinn, who’s studying for A-levels in Belfast, says she’s relieved about the result in Ireland but feels isolated as a young woman in Northern Ireland:
We are now poised to be the only place within these islands without access to abortion. I hope with all my heart that the forces that campaigned to repeal the eighth will now lend us a hand in dragging our laws into the 21st century.
Pete Doughty, a civil servant from Belfast, would like to see legislation change too:
Abortion is never, ever an easy option to choose ... I’ve seen friends of mine here in Northern Ireland having to take that decision – and then having to travel – alone, stressed, in comparative secrecy, and at great expense – to England and back, at the expense of their dignity and peace of mind.
Women in Northern Ireland have always been under the same pressure as Irish woman, but after this result they will now, tragically, stand alone. That can’t be allowed to continue.
Westminster must now step in and give Northern Irish women the right to be believed and trusted that our socially conservative politicians will always wish to deny them.
If you’d like to share your reaction, you can do so here.
Another couple of results, bringing us – according to RTÉ - up to 30 out of 40 constituencies:
Cork North-West 60.10% yes, 39.90% no
Longford-Westmeath 58.27% yes, 41.73% no
Derek Mooney, a former Fianna Fáil government adviser, has an very interesting take on the scale of the yes vote and what lay behind it:
The general assumption right up to the last week was that yes would win decisively, with a comfortable margin, leaving the no side in the low-40s nationally and tipping just over the 50% mark in the western, more rural constituencies.
Not for the first time the voters proved the pundits wrong. And the movement to yes happened long before the first posters hit the lampposts. Many traditional, middle-ground voters – including those who still see themselves as pro-life - decided some time back that it was time to take the issue of abortion out of the Irish constitution.
This referendum was about nuance, and Irish voters showed that they get nuance. So do voters in most countries. They know that very few issues are simply black or white.
Many voters, including those who had real qualms about some aspects of what the government proposes in its legislation, accepted the nuances and complexities, considered them and – on balance – accepted the case for repeal.
This is the seismic change that has happened in Ireland today. In a world that seems destined to rush to this or that easy populist position, Irish voters took the time to inform themselves. They listened to the expert opinions from all sides and weighed the arguments.
The political system afforded them that opportunity by having a long pre-campaign period where arguments, for and against, were calmly made. If only the Brexit referendum had been handled so calmly and sensibly.