Halappanavar anniversary marked by vigil

The second anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar was marked by a candlelight vigil in Galway last night.

About 150 people turned out to remember the 31-year-old Indian dentist who died from septicaemia at University College Hospital in Galway on October 28, 2012. She was 17 weeks pregnant.

Ms Halappanavar had asked for an abortion when she was told that she was miscarrying and would not retain her unborn baby. But she was advised by hospital staff that an abortion was not possible because of the presence of a heartbeat and because, initially, it was considered that there was not an immediate threat to her life.