A citizen member of the Constitutional Convention has expressed “grave concerns” about the organisation of the debate last weekend at which 79 of the 100 delegates voted in favour of a referendum on same-sex marriage.

“The debates were very one sided and almost all of the expert advisors seemed to lean towards reform,” Ms Julie Corley, of Mayo, told the Irish Catholic.

Ms Corley said she felt “bullied” by one Government TD and felt “intimidated” by other members of the Oireachtas who were in favour of same-sex marriage during the proceedings.

“I felt muzzled and very much backed into a corner because my views did not align with one member of the Oireachtas in particular,” Ms Corley said. She declined to name the Oireachtas member in question.

“He was very aggressive and rude towards me when he realised I did not share his views. He told me not to turn this into a religious debate and at one stage even said my point of view was wrong,” she said.

Guest speakers against a constitutional redefinition of marriage were also treated disrespectfully and heckled at times even by Government representatives, Ms Corley claimed.

“Ninety per cent of the applause was for those in favour of reform,” she said.

“Bishop Leo O’Reilly was met with silence and I felt too intimidated to clap for him. Senator Rónán Mullen was also in the middle of making some very valid points when Oireachtas members began to heckle him, sneering at his remarks.”

Ms Corley also said several Oireachtas and citizen members did not show up on Saturday for the debate but turned out on Sunday to cast their vote.

Ms Corley said she had felt “honoured and privileged to be taking part and was looking forward to hearing a balanced debate based on equality and fairness at the convention”.

However, speaking after the event Ms Corley said it was a “very negative experience”.

“I feel very disillusioned by the undemocratic way it was conducted. It would make me think twice about ever taking part in something like this again,” she said.