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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/may/26/irish-abortion-referendum-result-count-begins-live
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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/wg5FdFdo4g | Minister 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. |