Barry Cowen says decision to back repeal of Eighth Amendment was ‘agonising and difficult’

Leading Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has said his decision to support repeal of the Eighth Amendment and access to abortion up to 12 weeks was “agonising and difficult”.

Speaking during the Dáil debate on the Eighth Amendment, he said that it would have been easier to make a decision if he had not read or studied the material and the legal evidence. But after reviewing the data, “I have to support repeal”.

Mr Cowen described the issue of abortion as a challenge “that has tortured the minds of this nation”.