Tragic death accentuates second-class status of women

The second-class status of women in Irish society was thrown into sharp and ugly focus once more by the death of Savita Halappanavar.

Her voice was ignored when she pleaded for an abortion she hoped would save her life. And only one woman’s voice was heard in the Dáil when the scandal broke across leader’s questions yesterday — and that was a heckle.

“Legislating for the X case might help — it’s ridiculous,” shouted Independent TD Joan Collins exasperated as Enda Kenny again failed to show any leadership during leader’s questions.