10,000 march for abortion rights in Dublin

Candles are left in tribute outside Leinster House in Dublin Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

About 10,000 people marched through Dublin yesterday and observed a minute's silence in memory of Savita Halappanavar, who died of blood poisoning after being denied an abortion.

“The anger extends beyond Ireland,” said Sinead Kennedy of the Irish Choice Network.

“For more than 20 years we have seen political cowardice and inaction on this issue.

"The theme of this march is ‘never again’. Never again will a woman be allowed to die,” she said.

Protesters during a march in O'Connell Street, Dublin Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The protest stopped outside the office of Prime Minister Enda Kenny, where many lit candles and held pictures of Savita Halappanavar.

Savita died after being hospitalized with severe pain at the start of a miscarriage. Doctors refused her requests to remove the foetus until its heartbeat stopped four days after her hospitalization.

Activists say she may have survived had the foetus been removed sooner.