A heart-screening clinic set up to tackle a rise in sudden deaths in young people may have saved the lives of at least three teenagers, it has emerged.

More than 600 tests have been carried out at the University of Ulster service since last November when it was launched by leading heart charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry). 

John Lundy, Cry representative for Northern Ireland, revealed that an 18-year-old girl is the latest of three young people found to have a heart defect over the last month. 

If untreated, her condition could be potentially fatal. 

All three teenagers have since travelled to London for specialist medical care. 

The condition came to public attention with the sudden death of Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen and Armagh rugby player John McCall in 2004. 

Mr Lundy, who lost his 19-year-old son Aaron to heart problems eight years ago, said the clinic has been overwhelmed with demand since opening its doors on the Jordanstown campus. 

"Many heart conditions can be detected but heart screening for young people is not compulsory and it is often not until a tragedy takes place in a family that the true extent of the problem is known," he said. 

"A lot of gaelic and rugby clubs have contacted us to get their players screened following the deaths of high-profile young sports people such as Cormac McAnallen and John McCall. 

"But we would like to stress that the service is open to everyone between the ages of 16 and 35.  The girl who was detected a few weeks ago was not involved in any sports at all." 

Latest research by the charity shows that a minimum of eight young people are dying each week in the Northern Ireland and Britain from undetected cardiac conditions, often referred to as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). 

There are sometimes no symptoms for SADS and those that do occur can go unrecognised because the young person appears to be fit and healthy. 

In today's Irish News a Co. Down mother who lost her teenage daughter to the condition speaks of the devastating impact of her death and the family's determination to increase awareness about SADS. 

Kathleen Mooney from Newry has fundraised more than £10,000 since the death of her only daughter, Mary, in 2003 to buy life-saving equipment for schools and sports clubs. 

Pictures of Mary Mooney, Cormac McAnallen and Aaron Lundy are among those featured on a Cry campaign postcard to highlight the number of Sads-related deaths in the north. 

"No definitive research has been carried out on the death rate in Northern Ireland.  This is our next aim," Mr Lundy said.