Armagh, Northern Ireland, Apr 25, 2018 / 16:09 pm
Two Catholic churches in Northern Ireland have been targeted with graffiti bearing a message opposed to abortion, ahead of a key referendum in the Republic of Ireland.
Between the late hours of April 22 and the early morning of April 23, a vandal painted on St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh a slogan "Save the 8th. Save Ireland." The Eighth Amendment protects unborn children under the republic's constitution and could be repealed in a May 25 vote.
Another slogan was tagged on St. Columcille's Church in Carrickmore in County Tyrone sometime between April 23 and April 24. It appeared to say the traditionally Protestant Democratic Unionist Party's stand against abortion would benefit the unborn who will play in the Gaelic Athletics Association and those who will speak the Irish language, the promotion of which is a subject of controversy among DUP members.
"Only DUP speaks for Irish unborn to speak Irish and play GAA vote DUP," the slogan said, according to the Belfast Telegraph.