Sligo Municipal District supports repeal of the 8th
SLIGO Municipal District has voted to support repealing the 8th Amendment of the Constitution removing the right to life of the unborn.
Councillor Gino O’Boyle moved the motion at yesterday’s meeting in City Hall and was supported by Councillors Declan Bree, Chris MacManus and Sinead Maguire.
“I want to support the women of Sligo and all over Ireland,” said Cllr O’Boyle.
“They have our respect, support and won’t be judged. Mid-term abortions are rare. We should be showing compassion and understanding. Irish women are already having abortions,” he said.
Cllr Bree said he believed the majority of citizens will vote Yes to repeal. Cllr MacManus said the 8th causes more trauma a to victims of rape.
Cllr Seamus Kilgannon said Cllr O’Boyle was asking Sligo Municipal District to take a certain position: “Could we get a similar motion on the next General Election asking that we support a particular party? I think the motion shouldn’t have appeared on the agenda.”
Cllr Maguire agreed with Cllr Kilgannon, in that she didn’t think it appropriate but added that she would be voting Yes on Friday.
Cllr Marie Casserly said:“I’m not going to try to influence how people vote so I will be abstaining.”
Mayor of Sligo Cllr Hubert Keaney suggested Cllr O’Boyle amend his motion to just “note” the debate. Cllr O’Boyle refused and it went to a vote.
It was carried by four votes in favour (Cllrs Bree, Maguire, MacManus and O’Boyle) to one against (Cllr Kilgannon) with Cllrs Casserly and Keaney abstaining from the vote.