Nora Owen: Eighth only inserted after campaign to frighten people

The Eighth Amendment was never needed and was only introduced after a campaign which purposely set out to frighten people, a former justice minister has said.

Nora Owen has said there was “no need” to change the Constitution in 1983 but said intense pressure on politicians and a lobbying campaign was under way in 1981 when she first entered the Dáil.

Speaking in favour of a yes vote in this week’s referendum, Ms Owen described the nasty campaign and vicious lobbying which preceded the introduction of the Eighth Amendment.