Following the controversial death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar in a Galway hospital, one Irish Times journalist has written that Savita’s husband Praveen’s accounts may have been “muddled”.
The Irish Independent reports that journalist Kitty Holland stands by her reporting of the Savita story, but is also awaiting the outcome of the official inquiry.
On November 14, Holland’s report ran in the Irish Times under the headline, "Woman 'denied a termination' dies in hospital.”
In the wake, many jumped to say that the newspaper alleged that Savita died because she was not granted an abortion, which Holland denies. It is not definite to say yet whether or not Savita died purely because she was not given an abortion.
The death in itself was enough to warrant public debate, but with the misunderstanding of the allegation that Savita died solely because she wasn’t provided an abortion, pro-life campaigners worried that legislation would swing for abortion rights.
Holland insists that she only reported on what Praveen and his lawyer Gerard O'Donnell told her, but does say that Praveen’s account may have been “muddled.”
Read more news on the abortion issue here
While speaking on Newstalk radio program 'Coleman at Large,’ Holland said, “All one can surmise is that his (Praveen's) recollection of events – the actual timeline and days – may be a little muddled.”
"We only have Praveen and his solicitor's take on what was in or not in the notes ....we're relying all the time on their take on what happened.”
"Oh, I'm not satisfied of anything. I'm satisfied of what he told me, but I await as much as anyone else the inquiry and the findings. I can't tell for certain – who knows what will come out in that inquiry?”
"They may come back and say she came in with a disease she caught from something outside the hospital before she even arrived in..."
RTE.ie reported on Monday that Holland stood by her reporting, and said Praveen was a “credible witness.”
Praveen’s lawyer Gerard O'Donnell told the Irish Independent on Monday that "My client wants to know why a request for a termination was refused. Mr. Halappanavar has never claimed in any interview that a termination could have saved his wife's life."
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