The young woman at the centre of the latest abortion controversy has said she tried to take her own life when she was 16 weeks pregnant.

The HSE inquiry into the case will, among other things, focus on the apparent three momth delay between the time the woman first requested a termination and when the case was considered by a panel of experts and baby was subsequently delivered by Caesarean section.

The woman said she had been a victim of rape before she came to Ireland earlier this year, and shortly afterwards she discovered she was pregnant.

The woman told the Irish Times that when she was eight weeks pregnant she expressed the wish that she would have preferred to die rather than bear the child of her rapist.

She was later admitted to hospital at 24 weeks gestation and told she could not have an abortion as her pregnancy had progressed too far.

The woman was admitted to hospital last month expressing suicidal ideation at 24 weeks pregnant and she was initially told she could not have an abortion as the pregnancy was too far progressed.

The woman began a thirst and hunger strike following which a panel of three experts - two psychiatrists and one obstetrician - was convened.

According to the article, she was then certified as suicidal and it was agreed that a termination should take place. The HSE obtained a High Court order to rehydrate and feed her.

She said she was told she could have the abortion, but was later told in fact the only option open to her was a Caesarean section. The child was delivered by Caesarean at around 25 weeks.

The woman is receiving mental health care in the community, while the baby is still in hospital.

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