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'Over 2,000' attend sit-down protest for Savita at Leinster House

Demonstrators sat on the ground during a moment of silence, while speakers argued for legislation on abortion.

AROUND TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE are said to have attended a demonstration in memory of Savita Halappanavar outside Leinster House this evening.

The demonstration, organised by the pro-choice campaign, was publicised through social media following the news that the 31-year-old died at University College Hospital in Galway last month from septicaemia contracted during her miscarriage, having been refused a termination.

During the event, attendees sat down on the street and observed silence in Savita’s memory.

The event, co-organised by People Before Profit and the United Left Alliance, was delayed slightly as the Molesworth Street and Kildare Street areas had not been closed to traffic before the demonstration began.

ULA TD Clare Daly, who tabled a bill to legislate for the X Case in April of this yera, told the crowd that today had been “in many ways the worst of days for Irish society”.

“X isn’t good enough, but it’s a start,” she said.

Sinead Ahern of Choice Ireland said this evening’s event was “about saying we are sorry to Savita’s family”, but that “tomorrow is about action”.

Socialist Party councillor Ruth Coppinger said the events that had led to Savita’s death were “medieval”, and called on the pro-choice movement “to band together to push for legislation on the X case”.

Coppinger also called for a separation of church and state, and the ending of any religious involvement in hospitals.

Organisers put the numbers in attendance at about 2,000, though Gardaí declined to estimate the numbers in attendance until after the event had concluded.

The organisers have also called for pickets at Irish embassies across Europe next Wednesday. A demonstration outside the Irish embassy in London was held in conjunction with this evening’s event in Dublin.

Additional reporting, and main image, by Christine Bohan.

Read: Savita scandal: Reilly urges TDs not to prejudge results of inquiries

Watch: The full Dáil debate on the death of Savita Halappanavar

More: Savita death ‘not caused by Ireland’s ban on abortion’ – Youth Defence

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    May 26th 2018, 8:13 AM

    Warm rain, typical Irish summer.

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    May 26th 2018, 8:15 AM

    @Keith Synnott: It will keep the Dust down !

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    May 26th 2018, 8:24 AM

    Whats the weather like in Kiev? Come on the Pool .

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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 AM

    @Martin Ryan: Come on the Pool? That’s disgusting and bad advice for anyone that doesn’t want to be kicked out of their hotel.

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    May 26th 2018, 10:50 AM

    @Football in the Groin: Ha ha Brilliant!

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    May 26th 2018, 10:53 AM

    @Football in the Groin: I hear the hotels in manchester are full of scousers for tonight.

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    May 26th 2018, 8:33 AM

    Come on Leinster

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    May 26th 2018, 8:31 AM

    Cats & dogs in Tuam at mo, but who cares? come on Liverpool You’ll neeeeeeever walk alone.

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    May 26th 2018, 8:44 AM

    P***ed all morning in Roscommon…… normal summer!

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    May 26th 2018, 10:04 AM

    @Sean Leonard: ah sure Leitrim is beautiful in the rain.

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    May 26th 2018, 11:39 AM

    IW now have to defer shortage notices.

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