The abortion campaign had gathered steam after an Indian-origin woman, Savita Halappanavar, died in 2012 after her requests to terminate a 17-week pregnancy were denied by the country. Pic/AFP

Counting begins in Ireland's historic referendum on abortion as exit polls showed an overwhelming vote in favour of liberalising some of the strictest laws in Europe. Friday's vote to repeal a ban in this traditionally Catholic country was predicted to win by a two-thirds majority.