Campaigners March on 10-Year-Anniversary of Savita Halappanavar’s Death
By Samantha Calthrop (Staff Writer)
In October 2012, 31-year-old Savita Halappanavar was hospitalised. A dentist from Galway, Savita was 17 weeks pregnant, and complications with a miscarriage meant both she and her baby were dying of sepsis. She repeatedly asked for an abortion, which she was denied due to the presence of a foetal heartbeat. Savita died of sepsis at 1.07am on October 28 after two days of being refused an abortion, a procedure which would have saved her life. Savita's death sparked outrage across the country, and fuelled the outcry that would eventually lead to abortion being legalised by referendum in May 2018.
Savita's likeness, and the story of her death, have been used extensively as part of campaigns for the legalisation and availability of abortion, and as an example of the dangers of refusing to separate the church and state. At the tenth anniversary of her death, activists continue to call for reform. On October 29, 2022, approximately 300 protesters marched through Dublin, calling for further reform of Irish abortion law.
Current laws allow for abortion up to 12 weeks, after which point it is only permitted with a proven serious threat to life or with the agreement of two clinicians on the presence of a foetal abnormality. There is also a mandatory three-day waiting period.
Ruth Coppinger, former TD and ROSA member, addressed crowds at the march, speaking against the involvement of religion in medical care. “We march in sadness, we march in solidarity, we march in anger,” she said, “Sadness for the loss of Savita and the grief of her family. Solidarity with all those fighting abortion bans whose lives and health are endangered by them around the world. And anger - that the bodies of women - and trans people too - are policed by governments, by priests, by mullahs and clerics worldwide.”
Coppinger also called attention to issues with women’s rights in Iran and the recent Roe vs. Wade scandal in the US, where access to abortion was threatened by the Supreme Court.
Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council, also spoke at the march, criticising Ireland’s current abortion laws, stating: “While abortion is now provided, it remains unfinished business as women and couples continue to travel as they cannot access abortion at home. Our legislation goes against the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and situates abortion outside the normal range of healthcare which women need.”
“Urgent reform is needed to decriminalise abortion, remove the three-day wait period and the 12-week limit to enable abortion on request up to viability.”
Pro-life campaigner Eilis Mulroy criticised protestors, calling current laws in Ireland ‘extreme’ and dismissing claims that abortion laws were responsible for Savita’s death.
With Diwali taking place on October 24, the Indian community in Galway paused celebrations with a one-minute silence to remember Savita. The iconic photograph of Savita used in campaigns was taken at the Galway Diwali celebrations in 2011; friends speak of Savita as being the photographer at social events, rarely appearing in photos herself.
Savita also taught dance to Galway children, and is remembered fondly by her students, who are now adults.
Savita Halappanavar’s best friend, Mrudula Vasepall described the referendum on the eighth amendment as a relief, as “something positive came out of her death”. Speaking to the Independent, she recalled her shock at Savita’s death. “Never in our lives did we think it. It did not come into our heads. Never in a million years,” she said. “Even standing next to the ventilator in the hospital, we never thought she would be gone.”
Mrdula described Savita as a beautiful, passionate woman, who loved her hometown of Galway.
“Everything she used to do, she would enjoy to the fullest,” she said, “It’s a good way to be.”