Gardaí in Dublin have begun separate investigations into two illegal back-street abortions carried out in the city for €500 each in the last two months, writes Conor Lally.
The Irish Times understands that a foetus from one of the abortions was recovered and that a post-mortem examination has been carried out.
Gardaí have established the identity of a Moldovan woman whom they suspect carried out at least one of the abortions, on a Romanian national. The woman in the second case is from the Philippines.
It is understood she developed serious medical complications resulting from her abortion. The foetus was recovered when the woman was taken to hospital before the abortion had been completed.
The Moldovan suspect in the case of the Romanian woman has since fled the State. She was in Ireland on a short-stay visa and unsuccessfully tried to have it extended.
It was not until some time later that she came to the attention of the gardaí investigating the abortion claims. It is not clear if the same person carried out the abortion on the Filipino woman. However, both "operations" took place within two days of each other less than two months ago. The two women have since returned to their homelands, according to gardaí.
Detectives raided an apartment in Dublin 7 last month and recovered a suction pump which has led them to believe that an abortion was carried out at the premises. Gardaí also found chemicals at the same address which they believe were sourced in eastern Europe and are known to have been used in abortions.
"The equipment found would have been associated with the abortion process many years ago but would not be used in countries with more up-to-date procedures," said one Garda source.
The find was made after gardaí received a complaint from a Romanian man living in Dublin. The man claimed his Romanian partner had an abortion at the apartment in Dublin 7 without his knowledge or consent. He was able to supply gardaí with the address, enabling them to search the premises, which is in a block of residential apartments.
The Romanian man told gardaí that his partner saw an advert on a notice board in a city centre shop advertising "gynaecological services". When she rang an attached mobile phone number she was offered an abortion for €500.
He told gardaí his now former partner fell ill after the abortion and stayed in bed for a number of days, during which time she told him what had happened. The woman has since given a statement to gardaí.
It is understood the Filipino woman also spoke to gardaí about her ordeal before returning home in recent weeks. Gardaí at Pearse Street are investigating her case. The investigation into the Romanian woman's abortion is being conducted from the Bridewell Garda station.