‘Repeal’ group hail ‘wonderful result’

THE strong ‘Yes’ vote in Kerry shows that the people of Kerry are compassionate and realise that the Eighth amendment was not fit for purpose, according to Kerry Together for Yes.

“This is a vote for care, compassion and change for pregnant people in Ireland,” said Chairperson Paula Dennan

“The people of Kerry are compassionate. They understand there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach for women and their families. They understand the Eighth Amendment is not fit for purpose and they voted to have that compassion reflected in our abortion laws.”

Speaking after the vote on Saturday, Ms Dennan said she was “overwhelmed” at the result, adding that she hoped for a ‘Yes’ vote but was cautious in the lead-up to the vote.

“I was conscious of the ‘maybe’ voters so I took the tallies cautiously. I was expecting just over 50 per cent on ‘Yes’ but I wasn’t expecting this vote.”

The group also paid tribute to all those who canvassed across the county.

“All credit for this wonderful result must go to the people who with trepidation knocked on thousands of doors across the county. This group of mainly women with no political back- ground braved abuse and apathy in pursuit of their human rights. This was a grass roots, feminist campaign that has given our counties elected representatives a mandate to support the proposed legislation,” said spokesperson, Paul Bowler.

Meanwhile, SF TD Martin Ferris, who had campaigned strongly for a ‘Yes’ vote, said that the vote was ‘justice’ for all the women who had to travel for abortions.

“Today is a day that we remember the thousands of women who had to make the long lonely journey to London or Liverpool or elsewhere for a termination,” Deputy Ferris told The Kerryman.

“It was a journey hidden from their family and community. Today is a day that we finally got justice for those victims.”

He said that he had expected a ‘Yes’ vote but not such a strong ‘Yes’ vote.

Paula Dennan