Missing girl ‘wants to come home’

THE 14-year-old schoolgirl who ran off with an older man is safe and well and wants to come home, her family said yesterday.

Amanda Shine has been missing since Monday and is believed to have travelled to Britain with her 24-year-old friend.

After a frantic search, the Carlow teenager finally contacted her family yesterday.

“It’s the first real contact we’ve had,” said Tom Shine, shortly after talking to his missing daughter. “She’s expressed a desire to come home.”

The schoolgirl was last seen by friends leaving Carlow’s Presentation College at lunchtime on Monday.

The pair are believed to be outside the jurisdiction and gardaí have been in contact with police in Britain.

A number of text messages were received throughout the week from Amanda’s mobile but the family did not believe they were sent by their only daughter.

Her mother Valerie said she remains worried about the influence of the older man and her daughter’s infatuation with him.

Father-of-two Mr Shine said Amanda made contact with her mother and some school friends around lunchtime yesterday.

“It looks like she may be coming back on her own,” her anxious father said. “It’s been a difficult week for us all and we’re glad she has finally made real contact with us.

“There had been contact, through text messages, but we were relieved to hear her voice. We feel it was the first time she was able to talk freely.

Garda Inspector Gerry Redmond said an investigation team in Carlow was endeavouring to maintain contact with the missing girl.

A team of 10 officers were assigned earlier this week to work full-time on the case when Amanda’s family reported her missing and requested gardaí to seek public assistance.

Insp Redmond said gardaí believe the missing girl and a male person in her company were in Britain.