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human right

Breda O'Brien criticises Mary McAleese's comments about same-sex marriage

O’Brien said, “I would like to call on her to clarify exactly what she meant in the implication that people who vote no are part of the architecture of homophobia.”

“THERE IS NO human right to same-sex marriage. Countries can decide to vote it in but it has been established by the European Court of Human Rights that there is no human right to it.”

The words of Breda O’Brien, patron of the Iona Institute and Irish Times Columnist, speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

She was responding to comments made by former President Mary McAleese who said last night that same-sex marriage is a “human rights issue”.

O’Brien said, ”I don’t see it as a human right.”

She also called on McAleese to clarify her comments, saying, ”Mary McAleese has departed from the precedence set by Mary Robinson and by President Hillery by intervening directly in matters of Irish policy.

I presume she has a very good reason for doing but I would like to call on her to clarify exactly what she meant in the implication that people who vote no are part of the architecture of homophobia.

After being challenged by presenter Chris O’Donoghue, O’Brien said:

“I accept that she did not say directly that people who vote no are part of the architecture of homophobia, I would like her to remove any implication that that is the case.”

Reaction

The interview garnered a huge reaction online:

Read: Mary McAleese says the same-sex referendum is about children – gay children>

Read: ‘Should we allow mothers to marry their daughters?’>

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