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Paddy Ashdown has said if he lived in NI he would be "hard put" not to consider United Ireland after ROI abortion vote

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has said if he lived in Northern Ireland he would be "hard put" not to consider Irish reunification.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has said if he lived in Northern Ireland he would be "hard put" not to consider Irish reunification.

Lord Ashdown was writing on Twitter after the landslide Yes vote in the Republic's referendum on liberalising abortion laws.

He wrote: "A wonderful beauty is being born (sorry Yeats). Ireland is becoming an advanced modern EU state. The effect in NI should not be underestimated. My Grandfather signed the Ulster declaration. But if the UK Brexits and I lived in NI, I would be hard put not to consider reunification."

Also on the programme, a Catholic priest has said that if Catholics advocate or promote abortion, it may impact on the appropriateness of him celebrating their marriage.

1 hour, 27 minutes

Abortion

Abortion


Lord Ashdown was writing on Twitter after the landslide Yes vote in the Republic's referendum on liberalising abortion laws.聽
He wrote: "A wonderful beauty is being born (sorry Yeats). Ireland is becoming an advanced modern EU state. The effect in NI should not be underestimated. My Grandfather signed the Ulster declaration. But if the UK Brexits & I lived in NI, I would be hard put not to consider re-unification."
Stephen was joined by commentators Allison Morris and Alex Kane.聽
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Northern Ireland women must have access to planned new abortion services in the Republic.
Mary Lou said she did not want Westminster to legislate for abortions here, but she argued that Irish law should apply to women from Northern Ireland.

Catholic Church

Catholic Church

A Catholic priest has said that if Catholics advocate or promote abortion,
it may impact on the appropriateness of him celebrating their marriage or the wedding taking place in a Catholic church at all.
Father Damien Quigley wrote to a couple, saying
"just a heads up that, as the priest you've asked to celebrate your wedding for you, you and I would need to have a conversation about any promotion you may do to advocate for abortion in Ireland. Such promotion or advocacy would impact on the appropriateness of me celebrating your wedding or possibly, the wedding taking place in a catholic church. I'm sure we can have a good chat over a coffee sometime soon."
Stephen spoke to Kitty Holland - social affairs correspondent for the Irish Times.

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  • Tue 29 May 2018 09:03

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