Speaking following the successful challenge by Mark McCrystal to the government's Children's referendum campaign, Malachy Steenson, Solicitor and Criminologist said: "Today's decision of the Supreme Court must be respected by the Government, Saturdays Referendum must be called off."

He said: "This Referendum is to change the basic law—The Constitution of this Country, The Constitution was enacted in order to protect the people from the Acts of the Government, The Supreme Court is the final decider of whether the Government is acting unconstitutionally today they decided that they were acting unconstitutionally, if the Supreme Court is to mean anything then it must be respected , and this Referendum called off..

He added: "Minister Shatter is now prepared to ignore the Supreme Court and has created a Constitutional crisis. We are justified in asking if he is prepared to do that, how can we have any confidence that Judges will be permitted to make decisions in respect of children which go against government policy?"

"In the event that this Government ignores the Supreme Court then The Chief Justice Susan Denham must ask the Government what is her role and role of her Judges if their decisions are to be ignored. She must then advise them if they have no role then they will have to resign," concluded Mr Steenson.

*Malachy Steenson is a Practising Solicitor and a Criminologist living and working in the North Inner City of Dublin. He is a well known left wing community activist and is a regular contributor to broadcast and print media in relation to matters of social justice, crime and the economy.