Sinn Fein had campaigned for a Yes vote in the abortion referendum earlier this year (Brian Lawless/PA)

Sinn Fein politician Peadar Toibin has been suspended from the party for voting against the liberalisation of Ireland’s abortion laws.

The Meath West TD breached party policy in the Dail last month when he decided to vote No to Government proposals to introduce terminations up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and in limited circumstances thereafter.

Sinn Fein’s party policy is to support the legislation.

The party’s whip Aengus O Snodaigh announced on Thursday that Mr Toibin had been given a six-month suspension for failing to do so.

Peadar TÃ³ibÃ­n suspended from Sinn FÃ©in for a period of six months https://t.co/DUxOnD8K5b — Sinn FÃ©in (@sinnfeinireland) November 1, 2018

The first vote on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill passed by 102 votes to 12 in the Dail at the end of October.

Sinn Fein had campaigned for a Yes vote in the abortion referendum earlier this year, but Mr Toibin called for a No vote contrary to his party’s stance.

The public voted overwhelmingly in favour of liberalising the laws in May.

Mr O Snodaigh said: “All TDs were instructed to be present and to vote for the legislation.

“Peadar Toibin’s decision to vote against the legislation is a serious breach of the party’s rules.”

Mr O Snodaigh added that Mr Toibin had been informed of the decision.

Mr Toibin told RTE Radio One that he could not, in good conscience, vote for the bill.

“I believe that TDs are responsible for the votes that they carry out in the Dail and the outcome of those votes,” he said.

He added that more than a third of the population had voted No in the referendum and that a fifth of Yes votes did not agree with the bill in its current form.

“It’s important that those people have a voice in Leinster House,” he continued.

Mr Toibin said, if a general election was held while he was suspended, he would not be allowed to stand for Sinn Fein.

He added he had been told that if he stood as an independent while suspended there would be “no way back” for him to the party.

PA