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Irish abortion referendum: first official results show lead for yes – live Irish abortion referendum: first official results show lead for yes – live
(35 minutes later)
It’s becoming a procession:
Wexford has voted 68.40% for yes and 31.60% for no.
Limerick County 58.08% yes, 41.92% no
Tipperary 59.15% yes, 40.85% no
Kildare South 70.66% yes, 29.34% no
Clare 64.28% yes, 35.72% no
The president of March for Life, the US anti-abortion rally that backed the SaveThe8th campaign, has reacted with dismay to the projected result. The group’s president, Jeanne Mancini, said:
We are deeply saddened to learn that many Irish people voted against love and life by repealing the 8thamendment. Americans know from experience that there will be many grave and irreversible consequences to this decision, including the loss of precious lives.
A study released this week shows that legalising abortion greatly increases the number of children whose lives are terminated in the womb. Though they are the first, unborn children are not the only victims; abortion harms mothers too.
Life is the empowering decision. We grieve for the great loss this beautiful country will endure and we pray that they find a way to reverse this unfortunate decision.
Another result is in: Laois 61.35% yes, 38.65% no
They’re having a ball down at Dublin Castle, too:
Grand old singalong in Dublin Castle @dangriffinIT pic.twitter.com/XLXmRQ60A0
Sinéad Baker is with the Together for Yes campaign who have gathered yes campaigners in a Dublin hotel to watch the results come in.
A diverse crowd of hundreds of people have gathered. Local organisers from all parts of the country are here with their teams alongside the politicians and students who have been key to the campaign.
Results coming in are met with huge cheers and some stunned disbelief. Listen to the delight as Carlow-Kilkenny votes 63.5% yes:
And another. With seven constituencies declared, the vote now stands at 68.7% in favour of repeal overall.
Waterford 69.43% yes, 30.57% no
Two more results have come in, again in line with last night’s exit polls:
Wicklow 74.26% yes, 25.74% no
Carlow-Kilkenny, 63.50% yes, 36.50% no
Orla O’Connor, co-director of the Together for Yes campaign, celebrates “a monumental day for women in Ireland”, saying the expected referendum vote is “about a rejection of an Ireland that treats women as second-class citizens”.Orla O’Connor, co-director of the Together for Yes campaign, celebrates “a monumental day for women in Ireland”, saying the expected referendum vote is “about a rejection of an Ireland that treats women as second-class citizens”.
Readers have been getting in touch to share their reaction to the result.Readers have been getting in touch to share their reaction to the result.
Chelsea, a student teacher in Dublin, is very happy that the “Yes” vote was so high. “I’m over the moon to know that Ireland has voted so strongly in favour of removing legislation that is potentially damaging to women and families in our country. I think it’s an overwhelming turn out for a referendum and proves the importance of making a change.” Chelsea, a student teacher in Dublin, is very happy that the yes vote was so high. “I’m over the moon to know that Ireland has voted so strongly in favour of removing legislation that is potentially damaging to women and families in our country. I think it’s an overwhelming turn out for a referendum and proves the importance of making a change.”
Philomena Mason, 62, from Galway says “It’s a wonderful day for Ireland.” Mason voted again the amendment being included in the constitution in 1983 and thinks the change has come about about because of the testimony of women during this referendum campaign. Philomena Mason, 62, from Galway says “it’s a wonderful day for Ireland”. Mason voted against the amendment being included in the constitution in 1983 and thinks the change has come about about because of the testimony of women during this referendum campaign.
“A lot of women have told harrowing stories of crisis pregnancies where they had no option but to travel to the UK for terminations and felt strongly that this care should be made available in their own country.”“A lot of women have told harrowing stories of crisis pregnancies where they had no option but to travel to the UK for terminations and felt strongly that this care should be made available in their own country.”
Nick, a junior doctor who lives in Ireland, thinks that the result is a huge win for women, doctors and legislators so that it will now be possible “to provide healthcare, compassion and support at home rather than turning our backs on people in need.” Nick, a junior doctor who lives in Ireland, thinks that the result is a huge win for women, doctors and legislators so that it will now be possible “to provide healthcare, compassion and support at home rather than turning our backs on people in need”.
Rossa Bunworth, 67, a retired public servant from Dublin says he’s “stunned and delighted as a parent and grandparent of women and girls who are trusted at last.” Rossa Bunworth, 67, a retired public servant from Dublin says he’s “stunned and delighted as a parent and grandparent of women and girls who are trusted at last”.
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.
Sinéad Baker in Dublin has spoken to a proud and happy local:Sinéad Baker in Dublin has spoken to a proud and happy local:
Dubliner Terry O’Connor, 62, shared his joy at today’s #8thRef result: “It’s well overdue. The Catholic Church has ruled for decades. What right have they to say how a woman protects her body? I’m delighted with the result.” pic.twitter.com/mRjhGlvadlDubliner Terry O’Connor, 62, shared his joy at today’s #8thRef result: “It’s well overdue. The Catholic Church has ruled for decades. What right have they to say how a woman protects her body? I’m delighted with the result.” pic.twitter.com/mRjhGlvadl
And here is an opposing point of view:And here is an opposing point of view:
Let us pray together that satanic evil has not gained a foothold in Ireland, through legalized killing of the most innocent life in the womb, that will now take many years to exorcise. #SaveThe8thLet us pray together that satanic evil has not gained a foothold in Ireland, through legalized killing of the most innocent life in the womb, that will now take many years to exorcise. #SaveThe8th
The crowds are starting to assemble at Dublin Castle, where Ireland’s health minister, Simon Harris, has spoken of a “very emotional day”, RTÉ reports: The crowds are starting to assemble at Dublin Castle, where Ireland’s health minister, Simon Harris, is speaking, RTÉ reports:
“It’s a very emotional day” @SimonHarrisTD speaking to the media at Dublin Castle #8thRef pic.twitter.com/2effLpRpRi“It’s a very emotional day” @SimonHarrisTD speaking to the media at Dublin Castle #8thRef pic.twitter.com/2effLpRpRi
The Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, has told the BBC that “action will now have to be taken” over Northern Ireland, set to be the only part of the UK and Ireland where abortions are outlawed bar exceptional circumstances:The Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, has told the BBC that “action will now have to be taken” over Northern Ireland, set to be the only part of the UK and Ireland where abortions are outlawed bar exceptional circumstances:
I believe in the principle of the right to choose - I think in the rest of the UK we have a sensible balance. The position in Northern Ireland is now highly anomalous and I think, probably, action will now have to be taken.I believe in the principle of the right to choose - I think in the rest of the UK we have a sensible balance. The position in Northern Ireland is now highly anomalous and I think, probably, action will now have to be taken.
Since there is, effectively, direct rule from Westminster, the government has responsibility and it can and should take the opportunity to deal with this issue properly.Since there is, effectively, direct rule from Westminster, the government has responsibility and it can and should take the opportunity to deal with this issue properly.
The official turnout has been given as 62.2%, an increase of 2% over Ireland’s referendum on same-sex marriage:The official turnout has been given as 62.2%, an increase of 2% over Ireland’s referendum on same-sex marriage:
How it’s looking at the moment in Dublin Castle #8thRef pic.twitter.com/evuI4y5FAFHow it’s looking at the moment in Dublin Castle #8thRef pic.twitter.com/evuI4y5FAF
Cork-North Central is in: 64.02% for yes, 35.98% for no. Cork North-Central is in: 64.02% for yes, 35.98% for no.
Here’s what the count looks like in Roscommon-Galway, and presumably a good many counting centres up and down the country this afternoon:Here’s what the count looks like in Roscommon-Galway, and presumably a good many counting centres up and down the country this afternoon:
No official result yet from Roscommon-Galway but the bundles of ballots tell the tale. #rsgal #rosgal #8thref #Referendum2018 @rtenews pic.twitter.com/pvManqYXbINo official result yet from Roscommon-Galway but the bundles of ballots tell the tale. #rsgal #rosgal #8thref #Referendum2018 @rtenews pic.twitter.com/pvManqYXbI
We’ve had two more official results showing a clear lead for repeal:We’ve had two more official results showing a clear lead for repeal:
Dublin Central: Yes 76.51%, No 23.49%Dublin Central: Yes 76.51%, No 23.49%
Cork South-Central: Yes 68.84%, No 31.16%Cork South-Central: Yes 68.84%, No 31.16%
The Guardian’s Henry McDonald is at Dublin Castle where the official results will be announced later today:
Unlike the result of the same-sex marriage equality referendum three years ago, there will be no giant screens on display at Dublin Castle today broadcasting the overall national result of the vote to legalise abortion.
Although no one is saying it too loudly, I understand “security reasons” have convinced the authorities at the former seat of British power in Ireland not to hold a giant screening of the main result this afternoon.
These were based on concerns about possible ugly scenes emerging between yes and no camp followers arguing on the cobblestones of the ancient square.
Which all seems a bit much given firstly that there appear to be few no supporters around at present, and secondly, that despite some minor incidents the 2018 referendum has not been marred by ugly, fractious scenes on the campaign trail.
The first official constituency result is in, from Galway East:
BREAKING: First official result in from Galway East Yes 60.2% to No 39.8%
The British government cannot ignore the expected massive endorsement for abortion reform in the Irish Republic while a near total ban on terminations remains over the border in Northern Ireland, Amnesty International has said.
While describing the projected victory for the yes side as a “momentous win for women’s rights” the global human rights group said their counterparts in Northern Ireland were “still prosecuted by a Victorian-era abortion ban”.
Northern Ireland is now the only region in the UK where the 1967 Abortion Act does not apply, said Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland campaign manager:
It’s hypocritical, degrading and insulting to Northern Irish women that we are forced to travel for vital healthcare services but cannot access them at home. The UK government can no longer turn a blind eye and deny us equality. We cannot be left behind in a corner of the UK and on the island of Ireland as second-class citizens.
The UK’s supreme court is soon expected to make a ruling on a case considering whether the regional abortion ban breaches Northern Irish women’s rights. And in September the court in London will hear the case of a mother who is being prosecuted for buying abortion pills for her daughter.
More from Lisa O’Carroll who has spoken to some overjoyed and tearful yes voters in traditionally conservative Roscommon:
Mother Georgina Barrow and daughter Natalie who had just done the tally on their own parish and it came in 90 to 66 in favour of repeal!. They were overwhelmed. "We had really good feedback on the doors, but you just don't know what people will do when they are in the booth"
Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has said he hopes laws to allow abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy would be in place in Ireland by the end of the year, with the expected referendum results giving the government “a clear mandate” to do so.
Vardkar told national broadcaster RTÉ the expected landslide for yes was the “culmination of a quiet revolution”, adding that the expected two-to-one backing for constitutional reform to liberalise abortion laws showed the country was not divided.
“We are united,” he said, and the referendum “allows us as a nation to come of age”. Health minister Simon Harris, who was at the vanguard of the government campaign, said he always knew Irish people were “decent and compassionate”.
In traditionally conservative Roscommon/East Galway, the first unofficial tally is showing 57% for yes and 43% for no, reports the Guardian’s Lisa O’Carroll.
Latest from Roscommon tallies: 98 out of 132 ballot boxes counted (none left unopened). Yes: 57.46%No: 42.59%
Lisa has spoken to one voter who explained that in this constituency, the “shy” vote was in favour of repeal in the eighth amendment, not saving it:
The “shy” voter won Roscommon for “yes” side. “ delight but for weeks now we’ve known there was support for the yes side. There were a lot of quiet voters who wouldn’t say how they were voting but if you had asked me to call it I would have said Ros was a yes,” Julie O’Donoghue pic.twitter.com/LhMsRfsmsf
Ireland’s minister for children and youth affairs has said she is grateful and emotional at voters’ apparent overwhelming decision to repeal the eighth amendment.
Katherine Zappone said she was confident new abortion legislation could be approved by parliament and put in place before the end of the year:
I feel very emotional. I’m especially grateful to the women of Ireland who came forward to provide their personal testimony about the hard times that they endured, the stress and the trauma that they experienced because of the eighth amendment.
Ireland’s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has said the expected overwhelming win for the yes side was the “culmination of a quiet revolution in Ireland”.
The taoiseach said this process of change for women had started over a number of decades. “We will have a modern constitution for a modern country,” he said, adding that the predicted outcome also demonstrated that Ireland was not sharply divided by the abortion issue any longer.
Meanwhile his deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, said the exit polls showed the result “was not a Dublin versus the rest” situation. Coveney said the predicted rural-urban split over the referendum had not materialised.
Ireland’s health minister, Simon Harris, has said he will ask for formal cabinet approval as early as this Tuesday to turn the government’s draft abortion law into a formal legislative text, Sky News is reporting:
Health Minister @SimonHarrisTD says he’ll ask for formal cabinet approval this Tuesday to turn the draft abortion law into a full text. #Repealed #RepealThe8th
While the yes camp appears to be decisively ahead in most constituencies, the vote appears to be neck-and-neck in rural Donegal.
The ballot boxes have now been emptied but there is no decisive result as yet, the BBC’s reporter in Letterkenny, Erinn Louise Kerr, reports:
Down to the last few boxes in #letterkenny #donegal and still no closer to a result #abortionreferendum - nowhere are the tallies as tight as here. pic.twitter.com/bzumDslAXL