Actor claims amendment 'tampers' with Constitution

The proposed amendment on abortion would be an abuse of the Constitution's proper role, the actor Frank Kelly has told a No campaign rally.

The Father Ted star, also a qualified barrister, said he was opposed to the amendment because he didn't want to see the Constitution "tampered with" as a set of principles and aspirations by which the nation sought to live.

At a gathering of artists, writers, actors and musicians in Dublin's Temple Bar, Mr Kelly said he was not in favour of abortion on demand but found himself "shoulder to shoulder" in the No campaign with people who were.

He respected their views just as he respected the beliefs and commitment of those who advocated a Yes vote.

"But I'm sorry that the parliamentary debate degenerated into name-calling and finger-pointing and an ugly spat. I think the politicians who indulged in that let us down, because they promised us it wouldn't happen," said Mr Kelly.

Among those who attended the rally was writer Roddy Doyle, who said he was "forced to vote No because I don't think there should be a referendum in the first place".

He added: "I never thought I'd be in agreement with Youth Defence, but it just underlines the confusion created by this amendment. What crystalised it for me was the masters of the three maternity hospitals calling for a Yes vote and then, under pressure, conceding that abortion should be legislated for in certain circumstances. It goes to show that you can't summarise something like this in a couple of sentences."

Poet Theo Dorgan said the referendum was a cynical political exercise, the chief aims of which were to "contain the independent TDs", and to win votes in "16 or 17 marginal constituencies".

The Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn, and the party president and MEP, Mr Proinsias de Rossa, were among the attendance, which also included artists Louis le Brocquy and Ann Madden, playwrights Frank McGuinness and Gerry Stembridge, actor Barry McGovern and Irish Times columnist Medb Ruane.