Warning signs of woman’s mental state ‘unheeded’

Warnings that the young immigrant woman at the centre of the abortion storm was suffering deteriorating mental health over many weeks were not acted upon until she became an immediate suicide risk.

A HSE inquiry into the handling of her case is expected to find there was a failure to appreciate the seriousness of her condition despite it being flagged, or to seek expert opinion on the information being provided. It is expected to raise questions as to why she was allowed move from one state-run facility to another when concerns about her were flagged with the first facility.

But the inquiry is also likely to highlight the lack of clear procedures in place to inform health professionals who may refer a woman for psychiatric assessment and in what circumstances.