The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland is backing a No vote in the referendum on the Eighth Amendment. The 30,000-strong membership of the Protestant fraternity is mainly based in Northern Ireland but several hundred members are based in the Republic, an Orange Order spokesman said. Amnesty campaigns manager Grainne Teggart said: “Many people in Northern Ireland have campaigned with our southern sisters and friends. “We have everything crossed in hope that Friday’s vote will be a Yes for equality and respect. “We cannot continue with a situation that treats women in Northern Ireland as second-class citizens.”

Source: The Irish Times May 24, 2018 16:07 UTC