President Higgins Says Savita Inquiry Must Satisfy Family

President Michael D Higgins has said the inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar must meet the needs of her family, as well as the State.

The president’s unprecedented comments will likely increase the pressure on the government to recast the investigation in response to continuing opposition from her husband Praveen.

However, it is understood the government continued to insist last night that the HSE-commissioned inquiry announced this week, to be held in private, would go ahead as planned.

This is in spite of Mr Halappanavar's refusal to co-operate and a threat of legal challenge by his lawyers if his wife's medical records are made available to the inquiry team.

“If they use those records then I will certainly be on to the data protection office and it may well be that that also involves bringing a court application by way of an injunction to restrain them from using those records," his solicitor Gerard O'Donnell told RTE last night.

Mr Halappanavar is seeking a sworn public inquiry.

Minister for Health James Reilly conceded yesterday the HSE investigation could lack a "completeness of information" if Mr Halappanavar maintains his refusal to co-operate.

Dr Reilly's approach now is to seek an interim report from the investigation team before Christmas and then to decide what further action is needed.

(H)