Criticism after suicidal pregnant girl sectioned

Abortion rights campaigners say it’s not acceptable that a suicidal girl was sectioned in a psychiatric unit while seeking a termination.

Reports from the Child Care Law Reporting Project showed the girl was detained on the advice of a psychiatrist under the mental health act.

She was later released under the advice of a second psychiatrist.

It’s one of 22 cases highlighted by reports this morning which has exposed a number of problems with the way legal cases involving children are handled.

Dr Carol Coulter, Director of the CCLRP, says TUSLA and gardaí often don’t fully co-operate on investigations.