Anti-abortion law in spotlight after woman's death

Savita Halappanavar went to University Hospital Galway on October 21 with severe back pain at 17 weeks pregnant.

She was found to be miscarrying, according to the Irish Times.

Husband Praveen Halappanavar claims she asked for a medical termination but it was denied because doctors had found a foetal heartbeat.

She was forced to endure two-and-a-half days of "agony" before the heartbeat stopped and foetus was removed after which she was placed in intensive care and died of septicaemia on October 28, Mr Halappanavar said.

He told the Irish Times doctors had said they couldn't perform a swift termination because Ireland is "a Catholic country."

But Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said that in 1992 the Supreme Court "X" case ruled that a termination could be lawful if there was "a real and substantial risk to the life as distinct from the health of the mother."

He called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to urgently bring forward legislation to clarify the law.

But Mr Kenny merely said he was waiting for two reports to come back.

National Women's Council of Ireland director Orla O'Connor said Ms Halappanavar's death was "horrific and needless."

She said the death "tragically highlights the urgent need for legislation giving effect to the constitutional right to abortion where the life of the mother is at risk."