Four TDs who voted against bill lose party whip

Four Fine Gael TDs who voted against legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances were last night expelled from the parliamentary party and told they would be stripped of their membership on Oireachtas committees.

Letters outlining sanctions were being prepared last night for the rebel TDs who include Wicklow TD Billy Timmins, Peter Mathews of Dublin South, Brian Walsh of Galway West and Terence Flanagan of Dublin North East.

They voted against the second stage of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, despite a last- minute meeting with the Government chief whip Paul Kehoe, advising them of the consequences of their actions.