Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Anti-abortion activists 'obtain patient details' and invite woman to fake scan

'It's grotesque, it's disgusting,' minister says, as investigation launched

Zamira Rahim
Friday 01 February 2019 15:39 EST
Comments
The woman had an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin
The woman had an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin (Google)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ireland's health minister has ordered an investigation after a woman's personal details were reportedly obtained by anti-abortion activists, before the information was used in a deceitful attempt to lure her to a location in north Dublin.

Simon Harris, who requested the inquiry, described the allegations as "extraordinarily concerning".

The woman at the centre of the controversy had an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin on 28 January, according to her anonymous Facebook post.

Following the procedure she had an internal scan and was sent home, only to be contacted by a man asking her to book another scan.

"He gave me my name, my address and told me to come in on Monday," she said.

The man contacted her by phone and text message but the woman became suspicious and called the hospital.

Staff at the National Maternity Hospital told her they "didn't [know] anything" about a second scan.

When the woman contacted the man again, demanding to know who he was, he initially claimed to be from the health executive's unplanned pregnancy hotline, My Options.

He then allegedly began shouting abuse at the woman, telling her that she was "disgusting" for having an abortion.

The location of the second scan was on the northside of Dublin The Irish Examiner reported.

It remains unclear how the woman's personal details, including her phone number, were obtained by the caller.

"It scared me," she wrote on Facebook, in a post widely shared online.

The allegation prompted Simon Harris to order Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) to open an investigation into the alleged data breach.

“It's extraordinarily concerning and disturbing to think that any patient’s details could be leaked," the minister said.

"We have worked extremely hard as a health service and I think as a country, to try and firstly legalise the provision of termination of pregnancy in our own country.

"The idea that anybody might leake a woman's confidential information is reprehensible, it's grotesque, it's disgusting.

"And that's why I asked the HSE yesterday to investigate the matter and to report back."

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

The anti-abortion group, known as the Good Counsel Network, is said to have reported the details of another abortion to the Irish police at Drogheda garda station, according to The Times of Ireland.

But the Irish Guards disputed the report.

"We're not aware of any incident or complaint at Drogheda station," a spokesperson for the Irish Guards told The Independent.

The people of Ireland voted to overturn a longstanding ban on abortion in May 2018.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in