SAVITA'S HUSBAND CONCLUDES EVIDENCE AT GALWAY INQUEST
Praveen Halappanavar has now concluded his statement at the inquest into the death of his wife Savita at UHG last year.
The inquest resumed this afternoon before Galway West Coroner Dr.Ciaran MacLoughlin after a short break.
31 year old Savita died at UHG on October 28th last year after suffering a miscarriage and contracting septicaemia.
Mr. Halappanavar has argued that his wife was denied an abortion.
The inquest opened just after 10.30 this morning when Praveen arrived with his legal team - Solicitor Gerard O’ Donnell and Barrister Eugene Gleeson.
Declan Buckley is Senior Counsel for the HSE.
Statements have so far been heard from a GP, from a member of an garda siochana and from a worker from the hospital mortuary where the post mortem was carried out.
The inquest is being heard in the presence of a jury – this is an obligation in accordance with S40 of the Act.
Coroner Dr.Ciaran MacLoughlin opened proceedings by conveying his sincere sympathy and condolence to Praveen and said he would undertake to conduct the inquiry with solemn respect.
53 statements have been received from hospital personnel and eight statements from Gardai as well as various expert reports.
Praveen began his statement just after 11 this morning and took a brief break from the witness box at midday before returning to complete his statement by 12.35.
He detailed his memory of events from the time Savita found she was pregnant in July 2012 to the time of her death at the intensive care unit in UHG on 28th October.
During his statement, he said that Savita had asked for a termination and on one such request was told ‘unfortunately I cannot, this is a catholic country, we are bound by the law. We cannot terminate while the foetus is still alive.
The inquest is expected to continue for at least one week at courtroom 3 in Galway Courthouse.