Savita husband refuses Taoiseach's request to talk to inquiry

Praveen Halappanavar has rebuffed the Taoiseach's plea for him to meet the chairman of the inquiry into his wife's death.

Enda Kenny appealed publicly to Savita Halappanavar's widower during Leader's Questions in the Dáil today.

However, speaking on a special edition of 'Prime Time' to be broadcast tonight, Mr Halappanavar repeated his demand for a full public inquiry, saying that he had no confidence in the HSE.

He also told the programme he will not meet the inquiry chairman.

"With due respect to the head of the inquiry and the Taoiseach, we won't partake in the inquiry by the HSE," he said.

"We want a public inquiry."

Earlier this morning, Kenny had said: “I think it’s in everybody’s interests, taking into account the sensitivity of what is under investigation here and trying to find out the truth, that he should be allowed to have a meeting.

“The situation is that the feelings of Praveen were taken into account here because he did say that nobody from the hospital should be associated with this investigation, and nobody will.

“Everybody from the hospital to be spoken to as part of the investigation will be spoken to as witnesses. This is in everybody’s interests.”