Man Who Fathered 15 Children After Advertising Sperm Donations on Facebook Never Told Women He Has Genetic IQ Disease

A Facebook sperm donor who fathered 15 children is accused of never telling the mothers he has an inheritable condition that causes learning disabilities.

James MacDougall, 37, fathered children with lesbian women through private donations advertised on social media. However, he was well aware that he had incurable Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that leads to low IQ and developmental delay, that he never disclosed.

MacDougall’s identity was revealed due to a family court battle in Derby, United Kingdom when he applied for parental responsibility and child arrangement orders for four of his children.

Despite him originally signing an agreement saying he didn’t want contact with some of his children, the New York Post reported.

The mothers of the children were opposed to the applications.

Derby Court Judge Justice Nathalie Lieven released MacDougall’s identity so that other women would stop using him as a sperm donor and also ruled that he should not have any responsibility for the children as it would cause them harm.

The judge also prohibited him from applying for a court order for the next three years because of his lack of insight into his conduct and because it would traumatize the mothers. 

The court heard from one woman only identified as SW, 25. She contacted MacDougall after seeing his advertisement.

Her children are now 3 and 2 years old. 

SW’s 3-year-old child is nonverbal and has challenging behavior because of Fragile X syndrome. 

After giving birth, she contacted MacDougall, and he would come and visit often. She got pregnant with her second child while he lived in her home during the COVID-19 lockdown but she asked him to leave in June 2020.

She accuses him of making sexual comments toward her and says he showered with the baby at least twice. He was arrested in June 2020 for attacking her.

In a different court, MacDougall won a case that allowed him to have regular contact with a boy he fathered in 2018.

The child returned home with nonaccidental bruises, and Lieven adjourned the case until social services provided a report.

MacDougall decided to go through a private sperm donation because he knew he couldn’t go through a clinic with his condition.

The judge had no confidence that he would let mothers know the implications of Fragile X syndrome.

“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 ruled after refusing his 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 parents supported their son’s defense, claiming he is a “victim.”

“He is kindhearted and would do anything for anybody, but he is gullible,” June said.