The excellent HSE Report into the Savita Halapannavar case confirmed that medical negligence was the reason for the tragic outcome and that subsequent references to abortion were a total ideological red herring.

A key witness in the investigation into the death of Savita Halappanavar will take the stand today as contradictory evidence emerged about requests for her pregnancy to be terminated.

A friend of Savita Halappanavar confirmed she was present when controversial and disputed remarks were made by a midwife about the inability to carry out a termination at Galway University Hospital because it was a Catholic country.

The consultant who cared for Savita Halappanavar at Galway University Hospital has insisted just one request was made for a termination after it emerged she would inevitably miscarry.