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| Vigil held at Irish embassy in London to protest over 'denied abortion' death | Vigil held at Irish embassy in London to protest over 'denied abortion' death |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Holding a candle in the early evening darkness alongside more than 100 other people outside Ireland's London embassy, including many other young Irish expats, John Morrissey expressed the hope that Savita Halappanavar's death would "not be for nothing". | Holding a candle in the early evening darkness alongside more than 100 other people outside Ireland's London embassy, including many other young Irish expats, John Morrissey expressed the hope that Savita Halappanavar's death would "not be for nothing". |
| "It's hard to believe we are standing here outside of the embassy of a European Union member state in the 21 st century," added the teacher, who had come with his wife to the vigil organised rapidly online hours after reports about the circumstances of Halappanavar's death had broken. | "It's hard to believe we are standing here outside of the embassy of a European Union member state in the 21 st century," added the teacher, who had come with his wife to the vigil organised rapidly online hours after reports about the circumstances of Halappanavar's death had broken. |
| Halappanavar, a 31-year-old dentist, died of septicaemia in a Galway hospital a week after presenting with back pain. Her husband said Halappanavar, who was 17 weeks pregnant, was denied an abortion following severe complications. | Halappanavar, a 31-year-old dentist, died of septicaemia in a Galway hospital a week after presenting with back pain. Her husband said Halappanavar, who was 17 weeks pregnant, was denied an abortion following severe complications. |
| "What happened seems so primitive – it's like something from the Victorian era," Morrissey said. | "What happened seems so primitive – it's like something from the Victorian era," Morrissey said. |
| "I was just appalled by the suffering that she went through, and which was so needless." | "I was just appalled by the suffering that she went through, and which was so needless." |
| At the protest, calls were made for the Dublin government to legislate on abortion provision urgently. | At the protest, calls were made for the Dublin government to legislate on abortion provision urgently. |
| The many Irish there were joined by British pro-choice activists and others involved in campaigns to prevent any strengthening of laws governing the UK's own abortion provision. Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green party, was also at the vigil. | The many Irish there were joined by British pro-choice activists and others involved in campaigns to prevent any strengthening of laws governing the UK's own abortion provision. Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green party, was also at the vigil. |
| Protesters included members of the London-based Abortion Support Network (ASN), which provides economic support and accommodation for women seeking abortion in the UK, and which says Irish women in financial distress were now seeking its help in greater numbers. | Protesters included members of the London-based Abortion Support Network (ASN), which provides economic support and accommodation for women seeking abortion in the UK, and which says Irish women in financial distress were now seeking its help in greater numbers. |
| "For all we know, there may well have been other cases like that of Savita's, whose family have been so brave in coming forward," said Anne Quesney of ASN. | "For all we know, there may well have been other cases like that of Savita's, whose family have been so brave in coming forward," said Anne Quesney of ASN. |
| Amelia Benson, a blogger and feminist activist, who spread word of the protest on the web, said: "I'm from a Irish family so I feel even more strongly about it. | Amelia Benson, a blogger and feminist activist, who spread word of the protest on the web, said: "I'm from a Irish family so I feel even more strongly about it. |
| "You see cases of women struggling in difficult conditions around the world in developing countries … but it's just shocking that successive Irish governments have failed to provide for safe and legal abortion services for its citizens." | "You see cases of women struggling in difficult conditions around the world in developing countries … but it's just shocking that successive Irish governments have failed to provide for safe and legal abortion services for its citizens." |
| Also present was Christine Quigley, a member of Britain's Labour party, who said: "I'm here as an Irish woman living in Britain to show my concern at successive Irish governments' lack of action on abortion. | Also present was Christine Quigley, a member of Britain's Labour party, who said: "I'm here as an Irish woman living in Britain to show my concern at successive Irish governments' lack of action on abortion. |
| "It's absolutely unacceptable in the 21st century that Savita was allowed to die in an Irish hospital, despite Irish Medical Council guidelines that medical abortions can be accessed in Ireland if the mother's life is at risk. | "It's absolutely unacceptable in the 21st century that Savita was allowed to die in an Irish hospital, despite Irish Medical Council guidelines that medical abortions can be accessed in Ireland if the mother's life is at risk. |
| "I'm also here to stand up for women in the Republic and in Northern Ireland who don't have access to this basic medical procedure. | "I'm also here to stand up for women in the Republic and in Northern Ireland who don't have access to this basic medical procedure. |
| "I want the government to legislate to clarify the law on abortion in Ireland, and to end the farce whereby we export the problem by forcing women to travel to the UK. It's time for Ireland to have a grownup and sensible conversation about abortion." | "I want the government to legislate to clarify the law on abortion in Ireland, and to end the farce whereby we export the problem by forcing women to travel to the UK. It's time for Ireland to have a grownup and sensible conversation about abortion." |
| Figures released in May by the UK Department of Health showed the numbers of women from Ireland travelling to England and Wales for abortions fell by 7% last year, but ASN says the number of women contacting it is set to double for the third year in a row. | Figures released in May by the UK Department of Health showed the numbers of women from Ireland travelling to England and Wales for abortions fell by 7% last year, but ASN says the number of women contacting it is set to double for the third year in a row. |
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