Ireland’s prime minister has hailed the result of the country’s landmark referendum as it becomes more and more clear voters have chosen to overturn a ban on abortion.

The public cast their ballots yesterday on whether to overhaul the country’s Eight Amendment which makes abortions illegal except in cases where it endangers a mother’s life.

Galway East, in Ireland’s west, became the first constituency to declare a result, with 60.19 per cent for Yes and 39.81 per cent for No and turnout was 63 per cent.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who led the Yes campaign, has said the country is united and has voted ‘resoundingly’ in favour of the abortion reform.

He pledged to introduce new legislation by the end of the year and called it ‘the culmination of a quiet revolution’.

Earlier today anti-abortion campaign leaders conceded defeat in the vote after exit polls predicted almost 70 per cent said Yes to repealing the amendment.

Save the Eighth spokesman John McGuirk said it was clear the electorate had ‘come down on the other side’.

The group added: ‘What Irish voters did yesterday is a tragedy of historic proportions. However, a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it.’

In a statement, Mr McGuirk said: ‘The unborn child no longer has a right to life recognised by the Irish state. ‘Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation.’

‘If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the Government to keep their promise about a GP led service, we will oppose that as well.

‘Every time an unborn child has his or her life ended in Ireland, we will oppose that, and make our voices known.’

He said there were a lot of people who voted No who are very aggrieved by the result.

Meanwhile the Together For Yes organisation said: ‘This is a vote for dignity and decency.

‘If exit polls are reflected in the official vote count later today, this will be a moment of profound change in Ireland’s social history, a moment when the nation collectively stood up for women and for their healthcare, and voted for constitutional change.’

Campaign co-director Orla O’Connor said the exit poll results showed ‘a resounding roar from the Irish people’ for repealing the Eighth Amendment.

‘Our campaign and we will be forever indebted to those women and couples whose own bravery and dignity have moved hearts and changed minds – and given the scale of the victory, changed the country,’ Ms O’Connor said.

Co-director Ailbhe Smyth said: ‘This will be a moment of profound change in Ireland’s social history, a moment when the nation collectively stood up for women and for their healthcare, and voted for constitutional change.

‘Together For Yes always knew that Ireland was ready for this change, because of the evidence and facts showing the harm and the pain of the Eighth Amendment.’

Irish deputy premier Simon Coveney described it as a vote to put a ‘more compassionate and appropriate’ policy in place, one that helped and respected women in vulnerable circumstances.

‘This is a huge step forward for Ireland,’ Mr Coveney said. Mainlonline.co.uk