The HSE has no record of an Irish woman who claimed on national radio last week that she was raped, imprisoned and bore children by her stepfather. The HSE says it is trying to establish the woman's identity and provide help.

A woman named "Catherine" claimed on Newstalk radio last week that her stepfather began raping her on an isolated farm near her home and she bore five of his children. A HSE source said because of the "limited details" in the public domain about the case, it has been unable to identify whether this woman ever came into contact with the health service.

"We have searched our records and cannot match anyone with the description of the abuse alleged. We will now make every effort to try and identify her. We have a statutory obligation to protect children. She may never have been engaged with the system," said the source.

The woman told Newstalk: "He was abusive and violent and a big man. I told my mother he was touching me and she called me a liar."

She claimed when, years later, she went to the gardaí, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) decided not to take the case any further.