Garda appeal after alleged abduction of boy, 12, in car

GARDAÍ are investigating the alleged abduction of a 12-year-old boy from outside his home in Galway on Thursday.

The boy was bundled into a car by a man in the passenger seat. He then had his hands tied behind his back, before he was thrown from the car a short distance from his home.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the abduction of the child from his house at Beaghmore, Caherlistrane.

A garda spokesman said: “A red-coloured car pulled up outside the house of a 12-year-old boy at Beaghmore, Caherlistrane. A man got out of the car and beckoned to the boy to come over under the pretence of asking for directions.

“When the boy went over he was bundled into the back of the car and it took off in the direction of Caherlistrane.”

He said the boy’s hands were tied behind his back with wire in the car.

At Caherlistrane, the boy told gardaí the car turned right at a pub in the village and went towards Shrule.

At a crossroads, the car stopped and the boy was thrown from the vehicle, which then sped off in the direction of Caherlistrane.

The boy walked along the road and met a man outside a house who untied him and helped him return home.

The passenger in the car has been described as 5ft 9ins, wearing a black hoody, light blue jeans and a dark-coloured baseball cap pulled down over his eyes.

The driver has been described as having short brown hair, big ears, unshaven, wearing a navy or black hoody, a dark coloured baseball cap and denim jeans.

Gardaí asked anyone with information to contact Tuam Garda Station on 093-70840.