Midwife to give evidence at Savita inquest

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 Mrs Halappanavar told the inquest yesterday that a senior midwife had told them the pregnancy could not be terminated as she miscarried in an Irish hospital, saying “it’s a Catholic thing”.

Mrudula Vasealli said Mrs Halappanavar pleaded for her baby’s heartbeat to be stopped when doctors at Galway University Hospital said the foetus could not be saved. She claimed the midwife replied: “We do not do that here, dear. It’s a Catholic thing.”