Some 35 per cent of paternity tests show that the father is not the biological parent, according to an Irish paternity services company.
Ormonde Quay Paternity Services (OQPS) reported a huge growth in the use of paternity services in Ireland, with increasing numbers of fathers requesting scientific proof of parentage.
"On average we conduct six paternity tests each week and we receive an average five requests for information every day through our website or by telephone and this is increasing steadily," said Brian O'Dwyer of OQPS.
"All our testing laboratories operate to a court-approved standard and the number of court appointed tests carried out by the company has almost doubled, compared with this time last year."