A man who paid a woman to have an abortion, but who later changed her mind, is now denying paternity of the child in a bid to avoid paying maintenance.

The unusual case was brought before Judge Patrick Durcan in Ennis district Court last Thursday.

The woman is alleging the man is the father of the child, but he denies this and is also refusing to pay for a paternity test.

He said he gave the woman €500 to abort the child, and he told Judge Durcan the woman can pay for the DNA test herself out of those funds.