The head of the HSE has issued an “unequivocal” apology and said an independent review will take place into the case of a couple who agreed to have an abortion after being wrongly advised that their healthy unborn baby had a so-called ‘fatal foetal abnormality’.

Rebecca Price and Pat Kiely were told that a blood test when Ms Price was 12 weeks’ pregnant with their first child in early 2019 was positive for Trisomy 18, a serious and rare genetic disorder, also known as Edwards’ Syndrome.

A further rapid result polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test carried out in a Glasgow laboratory also showed Trisomy 18 had been detected.

Ms Price and Mr Kiely said they followed the advice of their consultant and terminated the unborn child’s life in March 2019.

The results of a full cell culture test, however, showed that the baby did not have the condition.

In 2021, the couple settled High Court actions with medical consultants operating at the Merrion Fetal Health Clinic, the National Maternity Hospital and a Glasgow laboratory admitting full liability.