Irish abortion referendum - LIVE: Official result confirms overwhelming win for Yes vote as Ireland rejoices
Latest news and discussion as the official result is announced
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Ireland has voted 'Yes' to end the country’s ban on abortion after a historic referendum.
Voters were deciding whether to repeal the eighth amendment of the country’s constitution, which recognises the equal right to life of both mother and unborn child, effectively banning terminations.
This amendment has been in place since 1983, and the campaign to repeal it rapidly picked up steam in recent years, spurred on by cases such as the death of Savita Halappanavar in 2012.
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Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar said the referendum result marked “the day Ireland stepped out from under the last of our shadows and into the light”, and he hailed the vote as a “quiet revolution”.
Repealing the amendment will allow the Irish government to legislate on abortion as they see fit, most likely allowing terminations within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The two biggest parties in the country, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, allowed members to take a free position on the issue, while Sinn Fein and Labour officially backed a Yes vote.
You can follow the day’s events here and on our Facebook group.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has expressed its "profound sense of sadness" at the referendum result.
"The Republic of Ireland is evidently living through a defining moment in which the inherent value placed on human life is at stake. Today is not a day for celebration, but for quiet reflection," a statement read.
The church urged the Government to keep the promise to make abortions rare in Ireland.
Anti-abortion activist David Quinn said the pro-life movement would continue.
He tweeted: "The result today is basically a reversal of the 1983 result. On that occasion the defeated side did not simply slip away. The pro-life movement has to be here for the long haul like in many other countries. £8thref."
Many of those who witnessed the result have taken to Twitter to share their experiences.
Thank you for following our coverage of Ireland's abortion referendum. Here is our latest report on the result:
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