Photograph thanks to ‘Shirley Temple bar’

On the issuing of the HSE report into the death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway in October 2012, the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) extends their utmost sympathy to Praveen Halappanavar, as well as to Savita Halappanavar’s parents, family and friends on their heartbreaking loss. ARC notes that today’s HSE report confirms that the tragedy of Savita Halappanavar’s death is directly linked to the existence of Article 40.3.3, the eighth amendment to the Irish Constitution which equates the life of a woman to that of the unborn.

Commenting, spokesperson Sarah McCarthy of the Abortion Rights Campaign said, “In the words of the report’s chairman, Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, legislative factors interfered with medical considerations. He also confirmed that had it been his medical decision, he would have terminated the pregnancy. We consider it utterly appalling that in today’s Ireland, medical staff had their job of saving a woman’s life and health made more difficult by Irish law.”

Also commenting, spokesperson Órlaith Reidy said, “It’s very worrying to know that today’s draft legislation won’t prevent the possibility of this happening again to another pregnant woman presenting with an early second trimester miscarriage. We can’t allow again a foetal heartbeat to be put before a woman’s life. The eighth amendment to the Irish constitution must now be repealed. “