Plea to leave Down syndrome out of campaign

Down Syndrome Ireland has reiterated pleas to those on both sides of the Eighth Amendment referendum to respect people with the disorder and not to bring them into the debate.

It comes as the LoveBoth group, which is campaigning for a no vote, held an event with a number of parents who said they felt pressure during pregnancy to opt for abortion after their children were diagnosed as having Down syndrome.

However, Down Syndrome Ireland chief executive Gary Owens said the organisation had already asked both sides of the campaign not to include Down syndrome issues in the debate.