A landmark judgement in the UK High Court against a children’s gender identity clinic will also affect Irish services.

Young British woman Keira Bell (23) won her case against the Tavistock clinic for prescribing her puberty blockers as a child. Some Irish children with gender dysphoria are referred to the Tavistock  which is the UK’s only gender identity clinic for children.

The Court ruled it doubtful that under 16s could understand the long-term consequences of the treatment, and that it was unlikely they could give informed consent.

The three judge panel said even a 16 or 17 year old would likely need a court’s approval before embarking on the experimental treatment.

In February, it was reported that Irish doctors had raised concerns about gender identity services at Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin. The service is provided by flying in two clinicians from the Tavistock clinic. They alleged that the service providing puberty blockers to children was “unsafe”, but their concerns were suppressed by the HSE.

The Irish Mirror reported in August that a total of 78 Irish children have been sent by the HSE to the Tavistock for treatment. Six out of ten Irish children referred to Crumlin with gender identity issues receive psychosocial while 4 out of 10 receive medical treatment, including puberty blockers.