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'Father' claims for 12-year paternity

Ian Gould, from Rotherham, was named in a paternity claim in 1981, but has since discovered through a DNA test that he is not the child's father.

He was initially identified as the father after a blood test showed that he shared the same blood group as the child, even though more than a third of the UK population share the same type.

The Child Support Agency has already repaid the money Mr Gould gave towards the child's upbringing since the organisation was formed in 1994.

But the CSA insists that it cannot be responsible for payments made before it came into existence. Instead, Mr Gould is pursuing a claim for compensation with the backing of his local MP.

The agency said it is aware of 74 similar cases, but has acknowledged there could be many more.

Relevant Stories

Crackdown on self-employed CSA cheats (27 Oct 98 | UK Politics)
Child Support Agency blasted over performance (02 Sep 98 | UK)
Staff exodus from CSA (09 Aug 98 | UK)
DIY paternity test 'should be banned' (13 Jul 98 | Health)

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