I did a good thing says sperm donor who hid condition
A SPERM donor criticised by a judge for fathering 15 children to lesbian women without telling them he has a genetic condition yesterday insisted: ‘I did a good thing.’
James MacDougall, who offered his services free on social media, claimed he had been left ‘angry and upset’ after the judge hit out at his lack of honesty.
He said: ‘I haven’t done anything wrong. I gave them children but people are saying that I was not honest. The full truth will come out.’
The 37-year-old, who has autism and learning difficulties, went ahead with the private donations despite having Fragile X syndrome, which causes low IQ and developmental delay and is incurable and inheritable.
He had gone to court for access to four of the children he fathered, aged up to three. But three of the mothers opposed his request.
His identity was unmasked by Family Court judge Mrs Justice Lieven to deter others from using him as a donor. She banned him from being involved in the children’s lives and told a hearing in Derby she had ‘no confidence’ in Mr MacDougall ‘fully explaining to any woman the true implications’ of his syndrome.
His adoptive parents June and John MacDougall, both 73, spoke out in his support last night. Mrs MacDougall said they were shocked when he told them he had fathered the children, but added: ‘He wanted to be part of their lives. He is kind-hearted... but gullible.
‘He just wanted to help those women in a gay relationship fulfil their dreams and become parents.’
The retired hospital assistant and husband John, a retired council engineer, are supporting their son ‘wholeheartedly’ against ‘cruel’ accusations they say were made against him by some of the mothers. Mrs MacDougall disputed the judge’s findings, saying: ‘He would have told those mothers about the condition to help protect the children.’
Speaking from the family home in Nottingham, she claimed her son is ‘a victim’ in the court ruling. In court, Mr MacDougall, who volunteers at a museum in Milton Keynes, was accused of inappropriate behaviour including rubbing himself against one of the women and showering with a child. He was later arrested for allegedly attacking one of the women and leaving her with bruising.
Mrs MacDougall said she had helped look after one of her ‘grandchildren’. Her husband added: ‘Our son has done nothing wrong. We do not want him crucified.’
Sarah Norcross, of the Progress Educational Trust, said the case ‘should set alarm bells ringing’ over online donors. Fertility clinics can charge over £1,000 for sperm.
‘The full truth will come out’