Search begins for missing pregnant woman (30)

A major search began on Friday for a 30-year-old woman 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 that the HSE had tried to contact her through direct calls and texts and that family members had also been contacted after the woman, who is 39.5 weeks pregnant, failed to attend her medical appointment.

Members of An Garda Síochána had also visited her address.

Tim O’Leary SC, counsel for the HSE, told the court that 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, who appeared with barrister Sarah McKechnie, told the court that the woman’s first two children had been taken into care and now lived with their maternal grandparents.

Her third child had been adopted in the UK and her fourth had been placed in foster care.

He said there were significant risk factors in the woman’s ability to parent, including evidence of neglectful parenting, eventual abandonment and inconsistency with accepting assistance from professional services throughout pregnancy.

Mr O’Leary told the judge that the HSE was seeking orders permitting An Garda Síochána to immediately search for, arrest without warrant and detain the woman in order to transfer her to a hospital.

The HSE also sought orders to immediately detain and transfer the woman to a hospital to undergo assessment and monitoring as was deemed appropriate.

‘Extremely urgent’

Counsel said the matter was extremely urgent as, because of her medical condition, there were significant risks to the wellbeing of the lives of both the woman and her unborn child.

The court heard that the HSE and gardaí believed she may be with a sister, and that she would be assessed by psychiatrists when transferred to hospital.

The judge, 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.