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WORLD NEWS Saturday 26 May 2018

Ireland referendum could lift strict ban on abortion

By GREGORY KATZ feelings of isolation and
RENATA BRITO shame.
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland's ref- She said her vote would be
erendum Friday represent- one for solidarity and com-
ed more than a vote on passion, "a vote to say, I
whether to end the coun- don't send you away any-
try's strict abortion ban. It more."
was a battle for the very Campaigning was not al-
soul of a traditionally con- lowed Friday, but Dublin
servative Roman Catho- was still filled with signs and
lic nation that has seen a banners urging citizens to
wave of liberalization in re- vote "yes" or "no." Many
cent years. of the anti-abortion signs
The country's leaders sup- showed photographs of fe-
port a "yes," an outcome tuses.
that would repeal a 1983 A woman photographs a mural showing Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian dentist who Voting has already taken
constitutional amendment had sought and been denied an abortion before she died after a miscarriage in a Galway hospi- place on Ireland's remote
requiring authorities to treat tal, with the word YES over it, in Dublin.q islands so that paper ballots
a fetus and its mother as Associated Press can be taken to the main-
equals under the law. They land and counted in time.
called it a once-in-a-gener- referendum. "Whether allowed in special cases. ecstatic welcome. Letters to the editor pub-
ation opportunity to liberal- you agree or disagree, it Prime Minister Leo Varad- Some activists held a plac- lished Friday in the Irish In-
ize some of Europe's strict- shouldn't be the govern- kar, a doctor, voted in fa- ard reading "Thank you for dependent newspaper
est abortion rules. ment or anyone else mak- vor of repeal. making the journey so oth- contained several emo-
Results of the referendum ing that decision." "Not taking anything for er women don't have to" tional arguments urging
are expected on Saturday. Vera Rooney voted against granted of course, but qui- — a reference to the way voters to reject the repeal
Voters went to the polls after repeal. etly confident," he said, Irish women seeking abor- movement.
a campaign that aroused "It is a hard decision but I adding that the upside of a tions have had to leave the "If we vote 'yes' every un-
deep emotions on both just feel I don't have the sunny day in Ireland is that country to obtain them. born, wanted and unwant-
sides. For advocates of re- right to take life," she said. people come out to vote. Tara Flynn, who 11 years ed, will have zero rights,"
peal, a "yes" vote would be "I think life is sacred and for Thousands of Irish people ago flew to the Nether- wrote Frances Kelleher,
a landmark in Irish women's that reason I had to vote abroad travelled home to lands for an abortion, said from Killarney. "I do not be-
fight for equality and the no." take part in the historic ref- she planned to vote "yes" lieve the smart people of
right to control their own The referendum will decide erendum, and supporters to make sure future gen- Ireland want this unrestrict-
bodies. For opponents, it whether the eighth amend- of repeal gathered at Dub- erations of women don't ed, abortion-on-demand
would be a betrayal of Ire- ment of the constitution is lin Airport to give arrivals an endure what she did, with bill."q
land's commitment to pro- repealed or stays in place.
tect the unborn. The amendment requires
The vote also is a key indi- authorities to equally pro-
cator of Ireland's trajectory, tect the right to life of a
three years after the coun- mother and that of a fetus,
try voted to allow same-sex from the moment of con-
marriages and a year after ception. That effectively
its first openly gay prime bans all abortions in Ire-
minister took office. land, except in cases when
Theresa Sweeney, a repeal the woman's life is at risk.
supporter, was one of the Having an illegal abortion
first to arrive at a church is punishable by up to 14
polling station in Dublin. years in prison, and several
"I feel like I've waited all of thousand Irish women trav-
my adult life to have a say el each year to get abor-
on this," she said. tions in neighboring Britain.
Emma Leahy said her "yes" If citizens vote in favor of re-
vote comes from her firm peal, new abortion laws will
belief that everyone should then be discussed in par-
be able to make their own liament. The government
choice when it comes to proposes that terminations
abortion. be allowed during the first
"For Ireland, it's hope for 12 weeks of pregnancy.
the future," she said of the Later abortions would be