Ireland's health minister has ordered an investigation after a woman's personal details were reportedly obtained by anti-abortion activists, before the information was used in a deceitful attempt to lure her to a location in north Dublin.

Simon Harris, who requested the inquiry, described the allegations as "extraordinarily concerning".

The woman at the centre of the controversy had an abortion at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin on 28 January, according to her anonymous Facebook post.

Following the procedure she had an internal scan and was sent home, only to be contacted by a man asking her to book another scan.

"He gave me my name, my address and told me to come in on Monday," she said.

Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Show all 20 1 /20 Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Women in Dublin celebrate the result of yesterday's referendum on abortion law Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman in Dublin celebrates the result of yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Co-Director of Together For Yes Ailbhe Smyth speaking to the media at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters react, as the results of the votes begin to come in PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Long time campaigner Annette Forde, from Drumcondra, at the count centre in Dublin's RDS as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris (centre) with Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy (left) speaks to the media on arrival at the count centre PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes voters celebrate at the count centre in Dublin as official results for constituencies are announced PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman writes a message on a mural to Savita Halappanava, a woman who died of pregnancy complications AFP/Getty Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Activists react at the count centre as votes are tallied folowing yesterday's referendum Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald reacts with a member of the Yes campaign PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners celebrate at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in Reuters Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Senator David Norris at the count centre in Dublin as votes are counted PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A woman sits in front of the Dublin mural of Savita Halappanavar, a woman who died of pregnancy complications PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Repeal supporters at Dublin's RDS await the start of the count last night PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Minister for Health Simon Harris is greeted by retired Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness at the count in Dublin PA Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum Yes campaigners react, as the results of the votes begin to come in AP Ireland celebrates historic Yes vote on abortion referendum A Yes voter poses with a badge as votes are counted AFP/Getty

The man contacted her by phone and text message but the woman became suspicious and called the hospital.

Staff at the National Maternity Hospital told her they "didn't [know] anything" about a second scan.

When the woman contacted the man again, demanding to know who he was, he initially claimed to be from the health executive's unplanned pregnancy hotline, My Options.

He then allegedly began shouting abuse at the woman, telling her that she was "disgusting" for having an abortion.

The location of the second scan was on the northside of Dublin The Irish Examiner reported.

It remains unclear how the woman's personal details, including her phone number, were obtained by the caller.

"It scared me," she wrote on Facebook, in a post widely shared online.

The allegation prompted Simon Harris to order Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) to open an investigation into the alleged data breach.

“It's extraordinarily concerning and disturbing to think that any patient’s details could be leaked," the minister said.

"We have worked extremely hard as a health service and I think as a country, to try and firstly legalise the provision of termination of pregnancy in our own country.

"The idea that anybody might leake a woman's confidential information is reprehensible, it's grotesque, it's disgusting.

"And that's why I asked the HSE yesterday to investigate the matter and to report back."

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

The anti-abortion group, known as the Good Counsel Network, is said to have reported the details of another abortion to the Irish police at Drogheda garda station, according to The Times of Ireland.

But the Irish Guards disputed the report.

"We're not aware of any incident or complaint at Drogheda station," a spokesperson for the Irish Guards told The Independent.