Gerard O’Donnell, the Galway-based lawyer who is representing Praveen Halappanavar, said in an interview that he and his client deliberately made the release of information regarding the case slow in order to sustain the media’s attention.
TheJournal.ie reports that O’Donnell spoke with the Law Society Gazette about his and his client’s tactics in the wake of the case.
O’Donnell said to the Law Society Gazette in an interview: “I realised this case would benefit from sustained exposure in the media rather than a one-off media ‘storm’, and so we chose to release information to the media more slowly in order to ensure that the case would have continued momentum.”
Indeed, the story of the untimely death of Savita Halappanavar gripped both Irish and international headlines in October. Savita died in a Galway hospital after succumbing to sepsis when she was refused an abortion during her apparent miscarriage.
In the wake of her death, the debate over Ireland’s stance on being strictly anti-abortion has reignited and is continually developing.
O’Donnell noted that Savita’s story highlights “just how important the media is in society.”
“The interest in this case could not be achieved simply by writing letters. The significant media coverage has helped place the spotlight on the Government and the issue of the vindication of the rights of its citizens,” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell added that he hopes the government will grant Praveen’s wish for a public inquiry into his wife’s death, and is disappointed that no such inquiry has yet been granted.
He believes Praveen is entitled to a public inquiry under both the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, he said.
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.WoundedKnee | Jan 22, 2013, 09:42 AM EST
Bilics: You may be Irish, but you know nothing about Ireland. For you to say that there is a policy which counts the mothers life as nothing shows your absolute ignorance of Irish policy and practice. Maybe you need to visit Ireland some time.
Billcstf04 | Jan 21, 2013, 10:37 AM EST
I do not think this is about money but rather the inhuman policy which counts the mothers life as nothing While I am at the moment an expat I am Irish and think I therefore can speak my mind on this.
Towngate | Jan 21, 2013, 10:01 AM EST
The behaviour of all parties following the unfortunate death has been very suspect. The Irish finance minister should make it clear they can have as many enquiries as they like ... but they are not going to screw any money from the State! Moral for all Foreign Nationals who choose to live in Ireland: "When in Rome - do as the Romans do"!