Couple and their abducted children may be in Ireland

BRITISH police suspect a Shropshire couple who abducted their four children from social services care may have fled to this country.

The couple, Steven Hayward, 33, and Sharon Richards, 25, from Shrewsbury, took the youngsters from social services staff during an arranged contact meeting at social services offices last Saturday afternoon.

The family were last seen in a white Peugot 205 car, registration E512 FLE.

Detectives investigating the abduction believe the family had been preparing to leave the country and it is suspected they may be in Dublin or Galway.

The abducted children are 12-year-old Tara Richards, her three brothers

Tadhg, who is eight, Charlie, four, and Sid, three.

The children have been in care for some time and although they are with their parents, British police are treating the matter as an abduction.

Detective Inspector Charlie Hill, from West Mercia Police, said: “We would appeal to anyone who sees a family who they haven’t seen before in their locality, fitting this description.

“If they don't know them and the children all speak with Irish accents then please contact the police,” he said.

All four children were under the care of social services and had been seeing their parents at supervised meetings on a weekly basis.

Detective Inspector Hill said he believed the family may have fled to Ireland where Mrs Richards has relatives and sea and air ports had been alerted.

An internal inquiry has been launched by Shropshire County Council’s social services department.

Mr Hayward is described as being about 5ft 8in tall, of slim build with green eyes and speaks with an Irish accent.

He has several tattoos including a bird of paradise and the word ‘Steve’ on his left arm and the words ‘Dagger, born to lose’ on his right arm.

Mrs Richards is 5ft 2in tall and of very slim build with blue eyes, shoulder-length light brown, straight hair and has a scruffy appearance.