Breaking News
ICU NURSE GIVES EVIDENCE OF SAVITA’S LAST MOMENTS
An ICU nurse has recounted Savita’s final moments at day four of the inquest into her death.
She is the eighth witness to read her statement today before Coroner Dr.
ICU nurse Jacinta Gately was the last to read her deposition in proceedings so far today and detailed her involvement in Savita’s care from 27th October when she took a handover to the 28th when Ms.
Halappanavar died.
She told the inquest that upon taking up the handover she saw the team as they were attempting to insert an arterial line.
She said CPR was commenced later thant night and drugs were given as per guidelines and within minutes of commencing CPR she went to get Praveen and explained it would be a difficult time so he was accompanied by a friend.
She said Ms. Halappanavar was not responding to CPR efforts and confirmed time of death as 1.09 on October 28th.
Prior to this Nurse Aine Nic an Beatha gave evidence of her involvement with care and her queries regarding platelets to be given to Savita.
After a short break in the inquest at midday, UHG theatre nurse Noreen Hannegan gave her statement and explained how she assisted the anaesthetic team on October 24th, held Savita’s hand and explained the procedure of inserting the lines.
She said Savita had felt pressure down below and then learned that the foetus had passed followed by the placenta.
She said after the lines were inserted, Praveen came in and she and her colleagues allowed them time to grieve.
She concluded by saying: ‘I held her hand and wished her well and she thanked me. That was my last contact with Ms. Halappanavar and I wish to extend my condolences’.
After a short break at midday, the Coroner queried the process of giving B positive platelets to a B negative patient and said while he’s sure it’s alright, he wanted to check.
He asked for a consultant haematologist to explain that to the inquest.
So far today the inquest has heard from eight witnesses.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
