Citizens Votes Declares Abortion Legal In Ireland



The above photo was taken outside Dublin Castle showing the woman-led movement and massive youth voter turnout which led to today’s landslide vote to stop Ireland’s 8th Amendment on its 35-year constitutional abortion ban.

With all constituencies declared, the Guardian reported that 66.4%voted in favor of repeal, while only one of 40 constituencies voted against.

Crowds are reportedly chanting “Savita, Savita!”–in reference to Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 from sepsis after a miscarriage which could have been avoided were she granted an abortion.

An estimated 3,000 Irish women have been travelling to England and Wales to get abortions each year, and until now, the penalty for performing or undergoing an abortion (including taking imported abortion pills) was a 14-year jail sentence.


The New York Times reports that medical practitioners will still be allowed to “conscientiously object” to giving abortions.

Activists in Northern Ireland, where abortion is still outlawed under 19th century law, are now demanding their own vote.

Comments