Tragic Savita Halappanavar’s husband has repeated his call on the Irish government to ensure his wife’s death was not in vain.

Praveen Halappanavar again spoke out as Ireland comes to terms with the death of Savita after a Galway hospital refused to terminate her pregnancy and save her life.

Her husband has again told the Irish media of his hopes his caring wife will rest in peace if Ireland’s abortion laws are changed.

Savita’s parents have also hit out at the Irish laws which they believe cost their only daughter her life.
Husband Praveen, an engineer with Boston Scientific in Galway, also thanked the Irish people for the support he had received from all over the country.

He said: “My main objective is that they should change the law so it won’t happen to someone else. I know Savita won’t come back but I hope that she will rest in peace, you know, if they change the law.

Savita’s mother Akkamahadevi and her husband Andaneppa Sangappa Yalagi were highly critical of Irish regulations when they spoke from their home.

Her mother said: “How many more cases will there be? The rules should be changed as per the requirement of Hindus. We are Hindus, not Christians.”

Her husband Andaneppa said: “We are all curious really about what exactly went wrong and then maybe looking at putting some pressure to change the regulations.”

Savita died from septicaemia at 1.10am on Sunday, October 28. Husband Praveen told the Irish Independent that she asked medics to carry out a medical abortion or induce her but were told it was a Catholic country and against regulations.

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He said: “They never mentioned anything about a risk to Savita until she was taken to ICU, all they ever focused on was the baby.

“Basically everyone back home here in India, her family and friends, everyone can’t believe it in the 21st Century in a country like Ireland.

“The question they keep asking is why did they not straight away terminate her the minute they came to know that the baby won’t survive. That is the question I have been asked again and again and again. I don’t have the answer so they have to change that.”

Savita’s brother Sanjeev paid tribute to his sister. He said: “She was a wonderful person. I’m saying this not just because she was my sister. She was a very wonderful person, she deserved to live.

“My sister had a belief it was a safe place to have a baby but it is very unfortunate that we came to know because of this law her life is gone. We believe even underdeveloped countries are more safe than Ireland.”