Ireland turns out for abortion vote

Votes last night continued to be cast in Ireland’s abortion referendum amid reports of strong turnout numbers in many parts of the country.

Polls closed at 10pm, with 6,500 voting centres across the state busy with people keen to have their say.

Ireland’s president and political leaders cast their ballot sin the referendum on whether to liberalise the country’s strict abortion laws. Thousands of Irish citizens living overseas have travelled home in droves to exercise their democratic right on the emotive issue.