'We just want to know why she died': Widower of pregnant dentist who died in Irish hospital after being refused an abortion arrives for inquest into her death

The widower of an Indian dentist who died in hospital in Ireland after suffering a miscarriage said he has faith in the inquest to establish the truth.

Savita Halappanavar was 17 weeks pregnant when admitted to University Hospital Galway on October 21 last year and died a week later from suspected septicaemia, days after she lost her baby.


The 31-year-old's widower, Praveen, maintains that the couple repeatedly requested a termination but were refused because the foetal heartbeat was present.




Widowed: Praveen Halappanavar, the husband of Savita Halappanavar, arrives for the inquest into her death at Galway Coroners court today







Dentist Savita Halappanavar died of septicaemia a week after miscarrying 17 weeks into her pregnancy. Her husband Praveen Halappanavar is now looking for answers


Arriving for the first day of evidence, Mr Halappanavar said the last few days had been difficult as the couple's baby had been due on March 30 - the day he was handed a health service report into his wife's death.


'We have faith in the inquest, so hopefully we will get the answers,' he said.


'The big question is why was Savita treated the way she was not supposed to be? We just want to know why she died.'

The inquest at the courthouse in Galway city is scheduled to last at least a week.


Medics involved in the treatment Mrs Halappanavar will be called to give evidence along with experts including former master of the National Maternity Hospital Dr Peter Boylan.




Seeking answers: Praveen Halappanavar (second left) and his solicitor Gerard O'Donnell (second right) arrive for the inquest



Proud: The couple were at the heart of the Indian community in Galway and married in 2007

Mr Halappanavar has insisted that an abortion was refused during the miscarriage and at one point the couple were told it was because Ireland 'is a Catholic country'.


The widower said: 'All I want is to get to the bottom of it, to the truth, so (I’m) looking forward to it.'


Mr Halappanavar said he could feel his late wife’s presence.



Probe: Coroner Dr Ciaran McLoughlin arrives for the inquest into the death of Mrs Halappanavar at Galway Coroners court

'She has always been there and it always feels that she has been there and I get the strength from her,' he said.


'It’s going to be a very tough day. The last few days have been very rough.'

He added: 'I’ve been confident right from day one that we will get to the truth, I want the truth, so we will just have to wait and see.'

More than 50 statements have been furnished by health chiefs and gardai for the coroner, Dr Ciaran MacLoughlin.

Mr Halappanavar, a 34-year-old engineer at Boston Scientific in Galway, has so far refused to co-operate with separate investigations by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) and the Health Service Executive’s clinical review.


Lawyers have not ruled out taking the Irish Government to the European courts in pursuit of a public inquiry after the inquest.


Mr Halappanavar was said to be unsatisified with the draft findings of the HSE’s clinical review, which was handed to him on Good Friday.


It revealed there was an over-emphasis on the need not to intervene while there was a foetal heartbeat and that staff failed to recognise and diagnose the life-threatening infection in time.


It also reportedly found confusion among medical teams on the interpretation of Irish law on abortion.


The HSE has apologised over the treatment given to Mrs Halappanavar.


Opening the inquest in the packed courtroom, Dr MacLoughlin extended his sympathies and condolences to Mr Halappanavar and his family in India and vowed to undertake the inquiry with respect, courtesy and dignity in memory of his wife

He told the jury of six men and five women that the inquest was a fact-finding exercise, with no prosecution or defence.




Anger: Abortion rights protesters bearing pictures of Savita Halappanavar marched through central Dublin shortly after her death







The protestors were demanding changes to Ireland's strict abortion laws, which they blamed for Mrs Halappanaver's untimely death


He said more than 60 statements, including some from hospital staff, gardai, pathologists, a consultant obstetrician and a microbiologist had been taken, but not all would appear as witnesses.


'Savita died in tragic circumstances,' Dr MacLoughlin said.


'The family of Savita, in the presence of her husband, have suffered a very traumatic experience.'


The coroner asked for sensitivity, time and understanding to be shown by everyone as if they themselves had been bereaved in similar circumstances.

Mr Halappanavar is listed as the fourth witness to give evidence.



Protest: There were also demonstrations in India against the Irish government over the death

As Mr Halappanavar prepared to give evidence, the coroner revealed that the widower had called him from India while attending his wife’s funeral to ask him to investigate her death.

He gave his statement to gardai two days after he returned to Ireland amid fears that his memory would fade, the inquest heard.

Mr Halappanavar read his statement to the court.

He said he moved to Ireland in 2006 and a year later he married Savita in a Hindu ceremony in India.
When she moved to Ireland they travelled around the country. 'She found Ireland so peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle of India,' he told the court.