Archbishop of Dublin describes Savita death as a ‘terrible disaster’

"Kickstar" - Well said. Shure we just LOVE scourging ourselves! Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely PROUD TO BE IRISH - where the rate of death in childbirth is one of the very lowest in the world.

I never in my life thought I would live to witness such a spineless display of gutlessness from Irish politicians, who are running like scalded rats for cover, over an issue they had not the intestinal fortitude to deal with in twenty years. And of course the Church is a useful whipping boy at this painful time, when the have to confront their ugly mugs in the mirror, I'm just waiting for one of them to utter 'God made us do it'. As tragic as the death of a beautiful young woman and her baby in childbirth was, it surely was not cause for the overthrow of the state, or the condemnation of our race and each and every aspect of our culture. It is times like this that one generally sees the people come forward against the state who are not really secure in their culture, or have another axe to grind, But to see the editor of this publication Niall o' Dowd basically fold in an interview on Aljazerra, was the limit, considering the facts of this case are not even fully known at present, Mr O Dowd hung his head in shame for his nation quite voluntarily, and accepted that the medical staff in Galway were guilty of gross malpractice, and as a nation without any type of Abortion we were a disgrace.

Didn't see my earlier post. So here goes again. I grew up in Mass as the child of Irish immigrant parents (from Dingle, Co. Kerry to be specific) I remember that my mom and all of her friends/relatives used the same OBGYN physician to guide them during their pregnancies. Much later, I asked her how come she paid so much money we honestly didn't have at the time (same for most of her firends). Her reply, one I will never forget, and only later understood completely. "Dr Fortin never lost a mother." To this day, I have a mass said for Dr. Fortin and have menitoned him in my will so that this tribute will conginue as long as the Church says Masses. I was 8 years old when one of my firends and his six siblings were leaving the Mercy (Catholic, obviously but very short on mercy at that time) were leaving the hospital in tears after their mother died in childbirth. Obviously the "unborn" died too. I will never forget my mother's words: What a waste. They should all be ashamed. God will punish them.

Eh, well…the posters below, with one or two exceptions, show how little they know about the supremely highly-rated Irish medical care of pregnant women or of its ethos. The ethos is not religiously-based at all, you fools… Know your facts before you splurge your ignorance for the whole world to read. Irish Central and its comments, including mine, are hugely read around the world. “By the shine on their shoes you will know them…”… Huh? Me arse! By the dagger of their written words they display themselves as ignorant fools. We all know that, shine or no shine.

What an insult to that poor girls family

What has been lacking in this entire discussion is the knowledge of the dentist, HERSELF. Albeit not an MD, she never the less was fully aware of infections and blood poisoning. She knew she was dying. Can anyone imagine that horror and her looking at these dopes- who could have made the call and removed the contagion? The Galway doctors were professionally derelict. This highly educated, essential medical service provider and TAX PAYER to Ireland, not to mention someone who was loved and cherished by many- a REALITY was lost do to a not even potentiality. I am PRO LIFE- meaning I AM PRO CHOICE. My body my decision. We are not hand maidens or baby machines. The sperm is not sacred. The egg decides. Ireland, congratulations on your outpouring of sympathy and disgust. Please, Please acknowledge the horror this woman was put through. What a horrible, unnecessary way to die. Chuck the church, that does hate women and get on with being a secular society. You are a small country. It is the only way you will succeed.

Sean - "Meanspirited"? I didn't think so - I rather thought it was bone-shakingly to the point. As you know, some countries have a culture of aborting babies simply because they are female, hence my comment to Ciara. If we are to have ferociously insulting outbursts against the Irish on the boards and in the media, surely a few home truths, albeit shocking, are to be allowed. As for my "Best Wishes" offering, you might remember that Ciara and I had a playful online verbal "flirt" a few months ago - my "Best Wishes" offering was a throwback to that and was not even in the most remote crevice of my mind considered to be a "sneer". Similarly, because you and I have a "history" of some mutuality, you will notice that I now always offer your good self my "Best Wishes" - as I again do, without any question of its being offered in any way but the best intentions, as I did to Ciara. Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely Proud to be Irish.

Therre is no mention in the cardin inal's comments about Catholic moral teaching in this matter. I learned in the seminary 43 years ago that it is permissable to abort a fetus to save a mother's life. I doubt if that teaching changed. Why didn't the cardinal say that and add that he is looking into the practices at the Galway hospital. All he did was give a shout out to Irish nationalism. Save that for St. Patrick's Day.

Post Gone!!! Eamonn your reply to Ciaradexy was a little meanspirited and your "best wishes" sign off more like a sneer.

The cardinal "felt sorry" for the death but did not conemn the method and by his silence he condones the methods used. His apaology is a slap in the face andand only hurts the family involved.

Ciara, Just as well for you that you were born in Ireland. If you were from some other countries, you might not be here at all - especially with being female and all that! Best Wishes, Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely Proud to be Irish.

Gombeenman is the proper description for him.

"Joe Kelsall", So YOU know all the details of the tragic lady's death? Please do pass on this knowledge - you are one of the very few who know. Please include what you know about the Catholic church's instructions in the maternity unit. Also please include what you know about "neglect" in the matter. Éamonn, Dublin, Extremely Proud to be Irish.

This incident is a window into the type of medieval morality which Ryan, Aiken, Mourdock, et al., want to inflict upon America's women. Something I have not heard in this controversy is that, given the atmosphere of religious belief in which her doctors practiced and which they apparently embraced without question, it may well have been that they were not competent to evaluate whether, when and how procedures that would have saved her life should have been administered. One is left to wonder how many Irish women have suffered the same fate and whose families have been silenced by fear of offending the church. This is the environment of medical ignorance that the rabid anti-choice movement wish to impose here.

Another pompous bloated bishop lying through his teeth! He must be the only man in the world who has not read the details of this lady's death. This has NOTHING to do with infants child death statistics.The child was dead and the mother died from neglect.When are these holy men going to take reponsibility for their erroneous beliefs?