Cianan Brennan: How the media covered the death of Savita Halappanavar

The public and media reaction to Savita Halappanavar’s death can now be seen as a strong driving force in Ireland’s recent abortion laws, writes Cianan Brennan

The death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway played a crucial part in leading to the enactment of the first law defining the circumstances where an abortion could happen in Ireland. Picture: Irish Times / PA

If the current version of the abortion debate in the US ever seems a little abstract from Irish reality, you only have to look back 10 years to Ireland see how the country’s then-restrictive laws lead to a social outcry of our own.

You can also see the difference that media coverage can make — for the onslaught of press criticism which followed the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway a decade ago surely played a crucial part in leading, less than a year later, to the enactment of the first law defining the circumstances where an abortion could happen in Ireland, and to the full legalisation of the procedure in 2018.