Irish celebrities back campaign to legalise abortion
Campaigners take to social media to urge voters to support women’s right to decide ahead of the May 25 referendum
Dublin — Leading Irish actors have urged voters in a video posted online on Sunday to legalise abortion in the country, as campaigning intensifies ahead of a referendum later this month on the issue. The black-and-white video features an ensemble of screen stars voicing their opposition to laws making abortion illegal in Ireland unless there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. Women are free to travel abroad for abortions — and thousands do so every year, mainly to Britain — but they face 14 years imprisonment if convicted of having an illegal termination on the island. "In Ireland today", begins Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, "if the woman sitting next to you is pregnant" continues local TV star Peter McDonald, "she does not have full rights over her own body" adds Owen McDonnell, famous for playing a fictional police sergeant on Irish TV. Staring into the camera, a host of other actors — from Cillian Murphy, lead in the BBC hit show Peaky Blinders, to...
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