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Irish woman accused of concealing child's birth won't face charges

An Irish woman accused of unlawfully concealing the birth of her child in Western Australia will ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

12.15 2 Oct 2014


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Irish woman accused of conceal...

Irish woman accused of concealing child's birth won't face charges

Newstalk
Newstalk

12.15 2 Oct 2014


Share this article


An Irish woman accused of unlawfully concealing the birth of her child in Western Australia will not have to face charges.

The 25-year-old was backpacking in Halls Creek with friends, when she is alleged to have given birth.

The child was either stillborn, or died a short time after birth. The woman told friends she did not know she was pregnant.

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Under Australian law, all births must be reported, and concealing a birth carries a maximum penalty of two years.

The woman was allowed to return home to Ireland in August pending a hearing, but authorities have now dropped the case.

Lawyers had successfully applied to have her passport returned, arguing that she needed "to be with her family".

WACLA's president Linda Black told ABC News earlier this year that 'concealing the birth of a child that died before or after the birth' is "a charge that seems to be fairly rarely used. I can't recall the last time I heard of anyone being charged with this."

Ms Black pointed out that many countries around the world required by law the registration of a birth even if it was a stillbirth.


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