Inquiry team yet to interview rape victim

The HSE inquiry team into the care of Ms “Y”, the young woman at the centre of the latest abortion controversy, has yet to interview her. The team, established over four weeks ago, was tasked with reporting back “in the shortest possible period”.

The Irish Times understands the four-person team sought early last week to interview Ms Y but she declined a she and her lawyer had not yet seen her Department of Health, HSE or Department of Justice records.

She also asked for a list of questions before her interview and has not been given them.

She has raised concerns about the make up of the inquiry team, particularly the fact there is not an obstetrician or psychiatrist on it. These have not been addressed.

Suicidal

Ms

Y, an immigrant, arrived in the State at the end of March and found out she was pregnant soon after.

She had been raped before she came here, she says, and immediately said she wanted an abortion.

She was referred to the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) and informed of the costs of travelling for an abortion as well as the need for an exit and re-entry visa.

She seen by a doctor at Spirasi, an NGO which works with survivors of torture.

She became increasingly distressed as the pregnancy progressed and says she attempted to take her own life.

She came to the attention of HSE psychiatric services at about 22 weeks’ gestation. She was assessed by three experts – two psychiatrists and an obstetrician – under the terms of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. They agreed she was suicidal.

She was refused an abortion however and her baby was delivered by Caesarean section at about 26 weeks, last month.

The case reignited the abortion debate and the HSE established a team, chaired by Dr Philip Crowley, the HSE's national director, Quality and Patient Safety Division, to establish what happened.

Ms Y's solicitor, Caoimhe Haughey, wrote to the HSE, the Department of Justice and Department of Health in recent weeks, seeking her records. She has received her records from the IFPA and Spirasi.

Last night a HSE spokesman said: “The HSE has been collating all the documentation being used by the report team,some of which has already been provided to Ms Y’s solicitor and anything outstanding will be provided in the coming days”.