PROTESTS AND VIGILS are to take place around Ireland today in the wake of the news of the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar.
The 31-year-old died at University College Hospital in Galway last month from from septicaemia contracted during a miscarriage. She had been refused a termination, her husband Praveen said afterwards.
An investigation is now underway into her death, with the HSE saying today that an international expert has joined the inquiry.
In Dublin, around two thousand people were said to have attended a demonstration, organised by the pro-choice campaign, outside Leinster House on Wednesday night.
Today, a number of protests and vigils are due to take place around the country in response to situation, with some calling for legislation for the X Case.
Dublin
In Dublin, a march and candlelight vigil will take place at 4pm. The organisers said:
People are invited to respectfully honour the memory of Savita and to demand publicly, and together, that enough is enough. Never again should a woman die in these circumstances.
The march will commence at 4pm in the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square. Those assembled will arrive at Merrion Square, where candles will be lit and a co-ordinated minutes silence will be held in solidarity with vigils in Galway and London at 5.20pm in remembrance of Savita Halappanavar. Attendees are encouraged to bring candles.
The groups taking part include: Choice Ireland, Action on X, Irish Choice Network, Cork Women’s Right to Choose, Irish Feminist Network, Feminist Open Forum, Irish Pro Choice Campaign, National Women’s Council of Ireland, and RAG.
Galway
In Galway City, a vigil will be held for Savita today at 5pm, in Eyre Square. A large turnout is expected. Galway Pro-Choice has put forward four demands in relation to the current situation with abortion in Ireland:
We must legislate on the X Case immediately; Minister Reilly must instigate a fully independent public inquiry now; the expert group report should be released to the public immediately; the only way to safeguard the health of pregnant women in Ireland is to guarantee free, safe, and legal abortion for all women.
Other vigils and protests:
In Sligo, a march for women’s right to healthcare and choice will take place on O’Connell St at 4PM, meeting at the GPO end.
A vigil will take place at the Town Hall in Kilkenny at 4pm today for Savita Halappanavar. A vigil will take place in Carlow at 4pm at the Liberty Tree for Savita Halappanavar. A show of solidarity with Savita will take place at Ennis in O’Connell Square at 5pm today.
A vigil/protest will take place at 4pm at the Irish embassy in London (17 Grosvenor Place, London) to show support for women.
In Limerick, a protest will take place at 3pm calling for legislation for the X Case. In Clonakilty, a vigil will take place at 5.30pm in Astna Square.
In Letterkenny, Donegal, a march will take place at 3pm today, leaving from Market Square. In Cork, a protest march was held yesterday.
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