A search is on for a woman who is almost full term in her pregnancy and has failed to turn up to hospital to have the delivery of her baby induced. The 30-year-old mother of four a considered a high risk pregnancy due to a medical condition.
The High Court was told today that the HSE have tried to contact the woman through direct calls and texts as well as sending An Garda Siochana to her address after she failed to attend her appointments. The woman is believed to be with her sister.
Tim O’Leary SC, counsel for the HSE, told the court that the woman was no stranger to child protection services. Her first two children had been taken into care and now live with their maternal grandparents. Her third child had been adopted in the UK and her fourth one had been placed in foster care.
Mr O’Leary told Judge Moriarty that the HSE was seeking orders permitting An Garda Siochana to search for, arrest and detain the woman to transfer her to a hospital. Judge Moriarty, describing the case as a “genuine human emergency” granted the reliefs sought by the HSE. The judge, who adjourned the case until Monday, also appointed a guardian to the woman.