The World - News from June 27, 1986
The Irish put their staunchly Roman Catholic tradition to the test, voting in a referendum on whether to scrap the 49-year-old constitutional ban on divorce. Prime Minister Garret FitzGerald’s government, worried by an opinion poll predicting a 55-45 defeat for the reform it initiated, issued last-minute appeals for a “yes” vote on an amendment that would remove the prohibition. Observers believe the turnout will not exceed 60% of eligible voters, and results are not expected until today. Ireland, 97% Catholic, is the only country in Western Europe that still prohibits divorce.
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