It can probably be assumed that most leave voters gave little thought to the consequences of Brexit for Ireland. Had they done so, they might have thought twice about what they were setting in train; for those consequences are wide ranging and potentially very serious. Of the many historic irresponsibilities that led to the Brexit vote, the failure to consider the Irish dimension is one of the most shameful and consequential. It reflects particularly badly on the predominantly English voters who made that profoundly wrong choice.

Voters in Northern Ireland were, of course, different. They rightly thought about the consequences for the two parts of Ireland a lot. This is one reason why Northern Ireland voted by 56% to 44% for the UK to remain in Europe. Nevertheless, just as in the case of Scotland, this significant part of the UK is being forced out of the EU against the wishes of the majority of its people. But the UK’s vote does not just override the north. It is also a unforgivably hostile gesture to this country’s most intimate and immediate neighbours, the Irish republic and its people.