Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar's husband on Thursday welcomed an apology given by a midwife for her remarks about Ireland being a "Catholic country" while denying termination to his 17-week pregnant wife.

As Praveen Halappanavar arrived for day four of the inquest into thedeath of 31-year-old Savita at Galway Courthouse, he was asked if he understood and forgave the comments by midwife Ann Maria Burke.