Paternity test requests more than double in five years

THE number of people seeking paternity tests has more than doubled in the past five years.

Laboratory test providers say demand for the procedure - where a blood sample or DNA swab is taken at a clinic - has more than doubled since 2000, with at least 1,000 taken nationwide every year.

Many tests are used by mothers to ensure maintenance payments from fathers while fathers use the test process to help gain access to their children.

“In an ideal situation, these tests wouldn’t be needed as it’s not the best way to start parenting children but it gives clarity. Also, courts are increasingly ordering them and men often want a more active role in parenting,” said Karen Kiernan, director of One Family, a lone parents support group.

While blood samples or DNA swabs are taken at clinics in Dublin, Limerick or Galway they are then sent abroad, mostly to Britain, because there are no facilities to provide final results here.

Prices for the test vary from €300 to €1,300.

Professor James A Houghton, of NUI Galway, said the “significant increase” in those seeking tests reflects the changes in Irish society.

“Relationships and society have changed and there is a greater awareness out there about how technology can help ensure rights. Many people want clarity and it gives them peace of mind,” he said.

Dr Stephen Murphy, who runs the private Park Clinic in Cabinteely, Co Dublin, said the number of paternity tests he carries out doubles every two years.

“You have mothers ringing for tests as they don’t believe their son should be paying maintenance,” Dr Murphy said.

“We also had a number of non-nationals claiming paternity to children born to Irish mothers.”

Irish laboratories are scathing in their criticism of some of the paternity tests being sold on the internet.

“These groups are encouraging people to do tests without having the consent of either partner. These tests don’t stand up in court and very often they’re not regulated,” Dr Murphy said.

Figures show one-in- three Irish births is outside marriage. The number of lone parent families increased by 8.8% between 1994 and 2003, with 153,900 families headed by one parent.