Wexford Woman Shares Heartbreaking Pregnancy Journey on South East Radio

A Wexford woman has spoken about the traumatic experience of travelling abroad for a termination following a devastating pregnancy diagnosis.

Appearing on the debut episode of South East Radio's new programme Shine a Light with Siobhan Murphy, Denise Whitmore shared her family's story after doctors discovered a severe fetal abnormality during her 20-week pregnancy in late 2024.

Originally from Killinick and now living in St Mullins, Denise described the shock of learning that her baby daughter had not developed a brain. Despite medical specialists agreeing that the condition was extremely severe, Denise said Irish legislation at the time prevented a termination in Ireland because doctors could not state with certainty that the baby would die within 28 days of birth.

After multiple consultations and an unsuccessful appeal process, Denise and her husband Mark travelled to Liverpool for treatment.

Speaking candidly about the emotional and physical toll of the experience, Denise highlighted the challenges faced by families forced to travel abroad during an already devastating time.

Throughout the interview, she paid tribute to the medical teams in Wexford, Dublin and Liverpool who supported her family, while also raising awareness of the realities faced by women dealing with complex pregnancy diagnoses.

The full interview can be heard on South East Radio's Podcast Section Shine a Light with Siobhan Murphy

This programme is funded by the news reporting scheme