Sperm donor fathers 15 children without disclosing his genetic low-IQ syndrome

A UK sperm donor that used Facebook to advertise his product fathered 15 children, but never disclosed to the mothers that he has an inheritable genetic condition that causes learning disabilities.

According to the New York Post, 37-year-old James MacDougall fathered these children with lesbian women through his private "donations," which he advertised on Facebook.

He did this despite knowing that he has Fragile X syndrome, an incurable genetic disorder that leads to developmental delays and low IQ.

The man’s identity was revealed during a family court battle in Derby, United Kingdom, after he had applied for parental responsibility and child arrangement orders for four of the children he fathered.

The agreement that he originally signed stated that MacDougall did not want contact with some of his children, and the mothers of the children connected to the court case were opposed to his applications.

Derby Court Judge Justice Nathalie Lieven named MacDougall as a means to prevent other women from using him as a sperm donor and ruled he should not have any responsibility for the children as it would cause them harm.

Lieven also blocked Macdougall from applying for a court order for the next three years due to his lack of insight into his conduct, and because the action would traumatize the mothers.

During the case, the court heard from one 25-year-old woman, identified only as SW, who had gotten in contact with MacDougall after seeing his advertisement.

She now has two children, ages 3 and 2, with the older child being nonverbal and has challenging behaviors due to Fragile X syndrome.

Following the birth of the elder daughter, SW contacted MacDougall, who visited often, the Mirror reported.

SW became pregnant with her second child while MacDougall lived with her during the pandemic lockdowns, and she asked him to leave the home in June of 2020.

She claimed that MacDougall made sexual comments towards her, showered with his toddler daughter at least twice, and rubbed his erection on SW.

SW said that she has not seen MacDougall since June of 2020, when he was arrested for attacking her, leaving her with a bruised neck and back.

In a different court, MacDougall won a case allowing him to have regular contact with a child called B who was born in 2021, but the child has been removed from having contact with MacDougall after the child was found with non-accidental bruises. Leaven adjourned the case until social services could get a report on the matter.

According to the New York Post, MacDougall went through Facebook to advertise his sperm because he knew that clinics would not accept it because of his condition.

"There is a very specific benefit in his being named in the hope that women will look him up on the internet and see this judgment," the judge said after refusing MacDougall’s lawyer’s request for anonymity.

"The usual approach of anonymity in the family courts should not be used as a way for parents to behave in an unacceptable manner and then hide behind the cloak of anonymity."

MacDougall’s adoptive mother, June, defended her son, telling the Daily Mail that he is "kind" and wanted to help people.

"He is kind hearted and would do anything for anybody but he is gullible. He just wanted to help those people, help those women in a gay relationship fulfill their dreams and become parents.

"He didn't seek any money, as far as we are aware, for providing that service, he just did it," she said.

Mrs. MacDougall claimed that her son is a "victim of those girls"