‘It’s not easy to be pro-life and young – it’s seen as anti-cultural and uncool’

KATIE Ascough, who was impeached as the Dublin SU’s president last year after removing abortion information from student pamphlets, said young people are highly engaged when it comes to the upcoming referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment.

Ms Ascough (20), from Dublin, said she has been keeping “very busy” canvassing on a six-week live nationwide tour with the Pro Life Campaign.

“Everyone is aware of the upcoming referendum and they do want to hear both sides of the debate. People want to be able to make an informed decision in May,” she added.

Ms Ascough said she believes the choice in the referendum is difficult, in particular for young people.

The former students’ union president said she believes social media is also adding pressure onto young voters.

“Social media doesn’t reflect the truth of our society.

“There has become a stigma that being pro-life isn’t cool.

“I’m not a fan of Twitter because it isn’t a balanced platform.

“It is not easy to be pro-life and young. It is very hard to go against what is perceived to be the ‘cool thing’ on campus.

Stigma

“It’s ridiculous that young people have to break a stigma based around the right to live,” she said.

“What kind of society are we living in that a right to life is seen as anti-cultural and uncool?”

Ms Ascough said if young people were properly informed, she believes the pro-life side would win the referendum.

She said she hopes Ireland rejects repealing the Eighth Amendment.