Mary McAleese to back marriage equality

Former president Mary McAleese is set to intervene in the marriage equality referendum campaign just days before polling and make a significant speech about why her family is voting yes.

Ms McAleese will attend an event for LGBT young people in Dublin and is expected to be joined by her son Justin, who only last month spoke publicly for the first time about growing up as a gay man.

Last month, his mother called the referendum a “human rights issue” and said it was about the future of Ireland’s children.