Start of the long fight for women’s autonomy

More than 40 years on, Dr Mary Randles is hearing the same arguments being put forward ahead of the Friday’s referendum to repeal the Eighth as she did when she was pushing to provide women with contraception.

The now retired GP set up the first family planning clinic outside of Dublin in 1975 amid much opposition from those in her own profession and whisperings within her community.

And just as the rollout of contraceptives took a number of audacious GPs to rise above criticisms, if the people of Ireland do decide to repeal the Eighth Amendment, the provision of abortion services will require doctors to take a lead.