97 children abducted last year

THERE were 70 new cases of child abduction last year, according to figures published last night.

Statistics from the Department of Justice show this represented an increase of four cases on 2003. The 70 cases represented 97 children who were abducted into, or out of, Ireland.

In all, the department’s Central Authority for Child Abduction dealt with 94 cases in 2004, including 24 cases carried forward from 2003.