Conflicting accounts as to the sequence of events leading up to the death of Mrs Savita Halappanavar have 
emerged at an inquest into her death.
Claims made by Mrs Halappanavar’s husband Mr Halappanavar as to who was present and the time and place of certain events have been challenged by lawyers representing the HSE, the Irish Independent reports.
Mr Halappanavar is claiming that his wife made two requests to have an abortion on the Monday after she was admitted to Galway University Hospital.
However counsel for the HSE, Declan Buckley says that the consultant who was in charge of Mrs Halappanavar’s case, Dr Katherine Astbury, will deny there were any conversations in relation to a request for an abortion that Monday.
Dr Astbury will also say in her evidence that a termination request was made by Mrs Halappanavar on Tuesday at 8.20am but that Mr Halappanavar couldn’t have been there as he had been bringing Mrs Halappanavar ‘s parents to Dublin Airport at the time.
The 32-year-old widower admitted in evidence that he could have been confused.
“There was no risk to the health or life of your wife and no reason to consider performing an operation that (Tuesday) morning,” Mr Buckley told Mr Halappanavar .
Mr Halappanavar alleged that his wife had been told that a termination was ruled out because “this is a Catholic country”.
But Mr Buckley said that Dr Astbury and other medical staff would deny “ever saying that”.
It is now being claimed that a midwife said Ireland is a Catholic country.
Mr Buckley also told Coroner Dr Ciaran McLoughlin that an Indian medic, who Mr Halappanavar said was in the hospital that Tuesday, will tell the inquest that he wasn’t there that day.
Mr Halappanavar said a family friend had witnessed the conversation with Dr Astbury.
Mr Buckley, however, insisted that “this just could not have happened. She would never discuss that issue in front of anyone, never mind in front of a stranger”.
Reading from the consultant’s statement, Mr Buckley said she would say: “The pregnancy could continue for several weeks. I recall informing her (Ms Halappanavar) the legal position in Ireland did not permit me to terminate her pregnancy at that time.”
Mr Halappanavar said he may be “confused” on some of the timings and when statements were made.