Husband to get HSE Savita report first

The husband of the late Savita Halappanavar will be the first to receive the HSE report on the investigation into her death when it is completed, the Dáil has heard.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said Minister for Health James Reilly had “confirmed his commitment to give Praveen Halappanavar the final HSE report as soon as it comes into his possession”.

Treated ‘disgracefully’

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald had criticised the failure to give Mr Halappanavar a copy of the draft report before it was leaked to the media. She said the Halappanavar family had been treated “disgracefully and appallingly throughout this entire process”; that it was more than two weeks after Savita’s death at Galway University hospital, and only after her husband went public, that the institutions of State had responded.

She demanded that Mr Halappanavar now be given a copy of the draft document.

Ms Halappanavar (31) died at the hospital of suspected septicaemia after a miscarriage at 17 weeks. Her husband said she had repeatedly requested a termination.

' Shameful' leak

Mr Howlin described the leaking of the report as “shameful”. He said Dr Reilly had conveyed his personal concerns to Mr Halappanavar on this.

People referenced in the report were given a copy to respond and comment before it was finalised, the Minister said. Ms McDonald said this was why Mr Halappanavar should have the draft.

But Mr Howlin said the Minister had not got a copy of the draft report. He said the Minister and Government were determined to find out the full circumstances of the death and that “the first person to be given it once the report is finalised . . . will be Mr Halappanavar”.