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| Praveen Halappanavar: abortion inquest is tough but I feel vindicated | Praveen Halappanavar: abortion inquest is tough but I feel vindicated |
| (30 days later) | |
| After a week listening to often harrowing testimony about how his wife pleaded with doctors for an emergency abortion, Praveen Halappanavar has said the inquest into her death has vindicated his version of events surrounding her final moments last autumn. | After a week listening to often harrowing testimony about how his wife pleaded with doctors for an emergency abortion, Praveen Halappanavar has said the inquest into her death has vindicated his version of events surrounding her final moments last autumn. |
| He said the admission by medical staff that they told the couple that his wife, Savita Halappanavar, would not be given a termination from the 17-week pregnancy that eventually killed her because "this is a Catholic country" confirmed he had been telling the truth about the events in Galway University hospital on 28 October. | He said the admission by medical staff that they told the couple that his wife, Savita Halappanavar, would not be given a termination from the 17-week pregnancy that eventually killed her because "this is a Catholic country" confirmed he had been telling the truth about the events in Galway University hospital on 28 October. |
| In an interview with the Guardian during the inquest to determine the facts surrounding the 31-year-old's death, Praveen Halappanavar also said he sensed her presence all around him in the arched courthouse where it was being held. | In an interview with the Guardian during the inquest to determine the facts surrounding the 31-year-old's death, Praveen Halappanavar also said he sensed her presence all around him in the arched courthouse where it was being held. |
| "The last few weeks, especially this one, have been very rough," he said, in a break in proceedings in Galway on Thursday. "Nothing much surprised me really so far, but we stuck to our guns and saw that the truth is coming out." | "The last few weeks, especially this one, have been very rough," he said, in a break in proceedings in Galway on Thursday. "Nothing much surprised me really so far, but we stuck to our guns and saw that the truth is coming out." |
| He praised one of the midwives for her candour. Ann Maria Burke apologised to the inquest for making the "Catholic country" statement. | He praised one of the midwives for her candour. Ann Maria Burke apologised to the inquest for making the "Catholic country" statement. |
| He said he felt vindicated after the midwife admitted to making the remarks, which some media reports and commentators had previously cast doubt over. | He said he felt vindicated after the midwife admitted to making the remarks, which some media reports and commentators had previously cast doubt over. |
| Despite the refusal of some of the medical team to allow an emergency termination, because in one instance doctors thought they detected a heartbeat, Praveen Halappanavar said he often felt sorry for the doctors, midwives and nurses sitting across from him in the court. | Despite the refusal of some of the medical team to allow an emergency termination, because in one instance doctors thought they detected a heartbeat, Praveen Halappanavar said he often felt sorry for the doctors, midwives and nurses sitting across from him in the court. |
| "At the end of the day, they are all the same. We are all human beings. They have feelings. I have seen these people in this court, I can see it in their eyes and I can also remember the care they provided for Savita especially the ICU [intensive-care unit] and the HDU [high-dependency unit]. They were amazing. They are hurting now when you see them in court." | "At the end of the day, they are all the same. We are all human beings. They have feelings. I have seen these people in this court, I can see it in their eyes and I can also remember the care they provided for Savita especially the ICU [intensive-care unit] and the HDU [high-dependency unit]. They were amazing. They are hurting now when you see them in court." |
| He admitted some of the forensic breakdown of the days leading to his wife's death had surprised him. However, he was reluctant to pinpoint any specific revelations. | He admitted some of the forensic breakdown of the days leading to his wife's death had surprised him. However, he was reluctant to pinpoint any specific revelations. |
| The softly spoken Indian engineer insisted he would try to sit through the remaining evidence. "That's the plan. I will see how far I can take it as some of the evidence has been very difficult," he said. | The softly spoken Indian engineer insisted he would try to sit through the remaining evidence. "That's the plan. I will see how far I can take it as some of the evidence has been very difficult," he said. |
| On Thursday, Dr Ciaran McLoughlin, the coroner presiding over the inquest, and the legal teams representing the hospital and Praveen Halappanavar discussed the possible impact on him of the postmortem examination report, which would be read in court. | On Thursday, Dr Ciaran McLoughlin, the coroner presiding over the inquest, and the legal teams representing the hospital and Praveen Halappanavar discussed the possible impact on him of the postmortem examination report, which would be read in court. |
| They offered him the option of leaving the room when some of the more disturbing details are being read. One of the recurring words has been "sepsis" – septicaemia, or blood poisoning, which killed his wife on 28 October. "I think I get the strength from Savita in holding on and sitting through all of this," he said. | They offered him the option of leaving the room when some of the more disturbing details are being read. One of the recurring words has been "sepsis" – septicaemia, or blood poisoning, which killed his wife on 28 October. "I think I get the strength from Savita in holding on and sitting through all of this," he said. |
| Throughout the week, Praveen Halappanavar sat alone, two benches behind both legal teams, supported mainly by his solicitor, Gerard O'Donnell, and his barrister. His family and his wife's remain in India, where the case has received heavy publicity. | Throughout the week, Praveen Halappanavar sat alone, two benches behind both legal teams, supported mainly by his solicitor, Gerard O'Donnell, and his barrister. His family and his wife's remain in India, where the case has received heavy publicity. |
| "Our families are not here, but I have been talking to them with updates mostly every single day, both morning and evening, to brief them on what is coming out here in the court," he said. | "Our families are not here, but I have been talking to them with updates mostly every single day, both morning and evening, to brief them on what is coming out here in the court," he said. |
| He paid tribute to the support he has received from all over the world since the tragedy and the ensuing controversy over his claims that his wife's life could have been saved if she had been allowed an emergency abortion. He said: "I have had determined support from Irish people as well as good wishes from people across the world. This has helped me massively." | He paid tribute to the support he has received from all over the world since the tragedy and the ensuing controversy over his claims that his wife's life could have been saved if she had been allowed an emergency abortion. He said: "I have had determined support from Irish people as well as good wishes from people across the world. This has helped me massively." |
| Praveen Halappanavar said his wife would have appreciated such kind gestures. "Savita loved the limelight; she enjoyed the attention. And it's all for her, and maybe something out of this will be for good in the long run," he said. "I sense her all around me in this court – big time. I cannot believe I am doing this on my own. She is always there at my side through these days." | Praveen Halappanavar said his wife would have appreciated such kind gestures. "Savita loved the limelight; she enjoyed the attention. And it's all for her, and maybe something out of this will be for good in the long run," he said. "I sense her all around me in this court – big time. I cannot believe I am doing this on my own. She is always there at my side through these days." |
| The young widower is uncertain yet if he will remain in Ireland but he is full of praise for the Irish people who have rallied around him. | The young widower is uncertain yet if he will remain in Ireland but he is full of praise for the Irish people who have rallied around him. |
| "On the future … it's a tough question … at the minute, I don't know, it all depends. The people at my work have been very, very kind and told me to take as much time as I want off, although I feel much better remaining at work, because staying home alone is not helping me. I was actually in work this morning, from half past six until the inquest started today." | "On the future … it's a tough question … at the minute, I don't know, it all depends. The people at my work have been very, very kind and told me to take as much time as I want off, although I feel much better remaining at work, because staying home alone is not helping me. I was actually in work this morning, from half past six until the inquest started today." |
| The inquest is expected to wrap up in the middle of next week, with the coroner and jury reaching a conclusion by Thursday or Friday. | The inquest is expected to wrap up in the middle of next week, with the coroner and jury reaching a conclusion by Thursday or Friday. |
| As he left for a lunchtime consultation with his solicitor, Praveen Halappanavar spoke of "bright days ahead" – perhaps a reference to the pending overhaul of Ireland's abortion laws. | As he left for a lunchtime consultation with his solicitor, Praveen Halappanavar spoke of "bright days ahead" – perhaps a reference to the pending overhaul of Ireland's abortion laws. |
| The death of Savita Halappanavar has placed an international focus on the confusion and fear Irish medical teams face when an expectant mother's life appears to be at risk as a result of her pregnancy. The coalition government in Dublin has promised to reform the law and allow for emergency terminations in similar cases. | The death of Savita Halappanavar has placed an international focus on the confusion and fear Irish medical teams face when an expectant mother's life appears to be at risk as a result of her pregnancy. The coalition government in Dublin has promised to reform the law and allow for emergency terminations in similar cases. |
| McLoughlin and his jury's deliberations could play a vital role in transforming the abortion dilemma in Ireland. | McLoughlin and his jury's deliberations could play a vital role in transforming the abortion dilemma in Ireland. |
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