Renegade TDs come under pressure after Sinn Féin abortion vote

Renegade pro-life Sinn Féin TDs Carol Nolan and Peadar Tóibín are facing mounting pressure to decide if they will remain as party members or quit after colleagues voted to further liberalise Sinn Féin’s abortion policy.

In a landslide vote at the party’s annual ard fheis in Belfast, Sinn Féin delegates voted to support unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and to reject calls for a conscience clause on the issue.

The decisions were made after a 90-minute debate on the topic which included more than 50 speakers, including party whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh, health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly, housing spokesman Eoin O Broin, and MEP Martina Anderson.