IRISH women are being told by rogue agencies posing as pregnancy counselling services that they will be more likely to get breast cancer if they have an abortion. In some cases, the bogus clinics are offering women illegal, private adoptions if they carry their babies to full term, according to a report by the Dublin Well Woman Centre.

The report, to be released tomorrow by the family planning advice service, warns that some agencies purporting to offer non-judgmental counselling are manipulating and intimidating women. Instead of getting advice and help, women are subjected to videos of late-stage abortions.

“These rogue agencies act with impunity,” said Alison Begas, Well Woman’s director. “It is manipulative and abusive. Women are subjected to emotive and lengthy bullying sessions. They are isolated from their partners and friends and shown disturbing videos.

“We have spoken to women asked to hold plastic babies and to name their ‘child’. They are told that they are more likely to commit suicide and get breast cancer. In some cases they are surrounded by counsellors who pray over them to ensure they make the ‘right’ decision.”

The activities of rogue agencies have been reported to the Health Services Executive and the gardai, who say they are powerless to act until a formal complaint is made by a victimised woman.

The bogus centres, which advertise among genuine clinics in phone directories, claim to offer legitimate counselling services, but once they have made contact with a client, they seek to delay the counselling process and show women disturbing videos and leaflets. There are no figures to determine how many are operating in Ireland, but reports from distressed clients show a number located in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Donegal.

Promotions for the rogue agencies promise contacts in Dublin, London, Liverpool and Manchester, giving clients the impression that they are linked to licensed abortion clinics in Britain. In some cases, when women call a British number for abortion advice, they are redirected to a Dublin-based office posing as an overseas clinic.

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA), which offers pregnancy counselling, has sought legal advice on rogue agencies. In addition to contacting gardai, it approached the Golden Pages, the business directory, to alert the company to rogue agencies placing ads there.

The Irish Family Planning Agency, which is working with the CPA to get the industry regulated, has been contacted by several women complaining about harrowing experiences.

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