Inquest hears evidence from Savita's friend

Savita Halappanavar's inquest has heard that when she asked for an abortion at University Hospital Galway a midwife told her "We dont do that here dear, it's a Catholic thing".

A friend of the dentist is giving evidence at the Coroner's Court on the second day of the hearing.

Mrudula Vasealli said she visited Savita Halappanavar on Tuesday morning, two days after she was admitted to University Hospital Galway last October.

The 31-year-old had been told on Sunday she was miscarrying her baby and was by her friend's account very upset.

The inquest heard she said: 'What sort of mother am I waiting for my baby to stop it's heartbeat, I'm losing it, I'm losing it terribly."

Mrudula said the midwife checked with the doctor and told them there was no way of saving the baby.

It is her evidence that both she and Savita asked about stopping the heartbeat and the midwife replied: "We don't do that here dear, its a Catholic thing."

Lawyers for the hospital say they are not obliged to hand over the roster to Savita's husband Praveen's legal team who wish to identify the midwife on duty.