Eight psychologists have called for a No vote on the grounds that the threat of suicide should not be excluded as a ground for abortion, writes Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Correspondent.
"Professional psychologists are trained to take threats of suicide very seriously, and use a wide range of scientifically validated assessment instruments as well as clinical judgments to evaluate the risk posed by the threat of suicide. Such threats can result in death," they said.
The statement is signed by Ms Nuala Ahern, MEP and counselling psychologist; Ms Pauline Beegan, consulting psychologist; Ms Teresa Burke, university lecturer; Mr Mitchell Fleming and Ms Anne Halliday, senior psychologists; Prof Eunice McCarthy; Ms Geraldine Moane, university lecturer; and Ms Rosemary Troy.