A Cabinet Minister has called for the facts to be established into the case of a woman who died in London after travelling there for an abortion. Frances Fitzgerald has described as 'tragic' the death of the 32-year-old foreign national who died in a taxi hours after the termination at a clinic in West London 18 months ago.

The woman was legally resident in Ireland and it is understood she had a condition which raised the risk of miscarriage although it was not believed to be in any way life-threatening.

Police in Britain are investigating the incident. The London Metropolitan Police says a file on the woman's death was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service in April.

An inquest is yet to be held.

The woman, who was legally resident in Ireland, sought an abortion at a maternity hospital in Dublin but was told that it was not legally possible to provide one in this jurisdiction. She is understood to have had a condition which raised the risk of miscarriage, although it was not believed to be in any way life-threatening.

The clinic has declined to comment on the case on the basis of client confidentiality.

The woman’s husband, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he is still waiting for answers but is frustrated at the lack of progress.

Thousands of Irish women travel to the UK for abortions every year. Last year almost 4,000 women from the Republic had a termination in Britain.

The Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald told reporters that the London Metropolitan Police must be allowed carry out an investigation.

Earlier, chief reporter with the Irish Times Carl O'Brien told Breakfast here on Newstalk that the case raises a number of questions.