Wicklow Says No in Abortion Referendum

The Garden County voted a resounding No in the abortion referendum as almost 60% of voters disagreed with the government and refused to accept the proposed amendment. Of a total valid poll of 41,041 (there were 221 spoiled ballots), 24,032 voted No

The 24,032 No Ballots cast in Wicklow

and only 16,788 voted YES.

The trend in Wicklow was more like that of urban areas around the country than in rural constituencies, many of which delivered a Yes majority. Instead Wicklow voted No by a 3:2 margin with the gap as wide as 2:1 for the No vote in Greystones and Bray.

Deputy Liz Mcmanus told WicklowToday.com that she was delighted with the No vote, particularly in her own constituency. "I am delighted that the people of Ireland have decided not to take away the rights of women", she said. Deputy McManus, who was director of the labour party campaign for a No vote, said that it was obvious that people did not want the rights of young, suicidal women to be reduced.

Meanwhile Councillor Deirdre de Burca, health spokesperson for the Green Party said that, while the Green Party had not advocated any position in the abortion referendum she believed that the people had spoken and should be respected. "I hope the government will accept this decision and will not keep trying until they get the result they want, as they seem to be doing with the referendum on the Nice treaty", she said.

With the abortion referendum over attention will now turn to the upcoming General election which must be held before June. So far ten candidates have declared in the race for the five available Wicklow seats.