Gardaí search for ‘vulnerable’ woman who is nine months into ‘high-risk’ pregnancy

A major search was on yesterday for a 30-year-old mother of four who is almost nine months’ pregnant and failed to turn up at a hospital to have the delivery of her baby induced.

The High Court heard that the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, presented a “high-risk” pregnancy due to a medical condition.

Mr Justice Michael Moriarty was told the HSE had tried to contact her through direct calls and texts, and family members had also been contacted after the woman, who is 39-and-a-half weeks pregnant, failed to attend her medical appointment. Gardaí had also visited her address.

Tim O’Leary, for the HSE, told the court the woman had a long history of involvement with child protection services in relation to her ability to care for her children.

Mr O’Leary told the court 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.

He said there were significant risk factors in the woman’s ability to parent.

Mr O’Leary told Judge Moriarty the HSE was seeking orders permitting gardaí to immediately search for, arrest without warrant, and detain the vulnerable woman to transfer her to a hospital.

He said the matter was extremely urgent as, because of her medical condition, there were significant risks to the wellbeing of the mother and the life of her unborn child.

Judge Moriarty, describing the situation as a “genuine human emergency”, granted the reliefs sought by the HSE and adjourned the case to Monday.