Abortion referendum: '˜beacon of hope' for change in Northern Ireland

The Together for Yes coalition said the result of the Irish Republic’s abortion referendum, where two-thirds of citizens voted to end the state’s near-blanket ban on abortion, has lit a “beacon of hope” for campaigners calling for change across the globe.

Northern Ireland will soon be the only part of Ireland and Britain where an almost complete ban on abortion is in operation.

Laws on terminations in the Province date back to the 19th century and theoretically a woman found guilty of having an abortion could face life in prison.

Prime Minister Theresa May has been resisting calls from fellow Tory MPs to push for reform of Northern Ireland’s abortion laws in the wake of the Irish referendum.

Grainne Griffin, a co-director of Together for Yes, said the world had been watching the referendum campaign in Ireland.

“We revealed a changed Ireland to the world and, more than that, I think we lit a beacon of hope for countries all over the world where people are working toward similar change,” she said.

“First of all I know our minds and our eyes turn to the north, where there is a need for clear, comprehensive abortion legislation to be introduced to give the women in Northern Ireland access to the care that they need.

“We have received huge support and solidarity from the women of Northern Ireland and I know that everybody in Together for Yes will say that we stand with you now and we look to you, to work with you and to help you in achieving the same change in Northern Ireland as we saw here yesterday.”