Two cases alleging that an unborn baby was wrongly diagnosed with a so-called “fatal foetal abnormality” leading to an abortion have been lodged with the State Claims Agency.

The parents allege they received the incorrect pre-natal finding that the foetus had a condition likely to lead to a death in utero or within 28 days of birth. This is because of the inaccuracy of some of the screening tests.

The number of babies wrongly diagnosed and then aborted could be much higher because many parents might not have had their children tested again for a genetic abnormality post-abortion.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was responding to a question from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín who commented that he was not surprised. He said that Aontú was calling on the minister “to examine all notifications of abortions she has received – as mandated under section 20 of the Act – to ensure that the law is being adhered to. It is extremely worrying to learn that there are multiple cases of abortion following misdiagnosis”.