UK abduction a grim signal for Dundalk youngsters
In recent weeks, at least five young girls in the Dundalk area of Co Louth have been approached by lone males driving a car.
Each time, the girls fended off the males, all too aware of what was happening across the water.
In the latest incident on Wednesday, three friends in Dublin succeeded in ignoring the tactics of a male driver.
Jessica Doyle, 12, Lisa Smith, 12, and Emma Dunne, 13, had watched the news and had listened to their parents and had taken note.
"Yes, we all knew of the girls in England. We were thinking of it when we saw the man," Jessica said.
The trio had caught a bus home to Crinken Glen, between Bray and Shankill in south Dublin, after going to the cinema in Dun Laoghaire.
As they walked the busy Bray road to their leafy estate just after 5pm, a new, gold-coloured Fiat Punto pulled up.
The grey-haired driver waved cash at them, said "Girls, girls", and seemed to pat the passenger seat. The girls were immediately suspicious and scared, and kept walking.
They jogged when the driver persisted and drove alongside them.
Jessica's mum, Ciara, said the events in England had played their part in the girls' response.
"Jessica has been watching the news about the two missing girls in England, so I think she is pretty aware of what can happen," she said.
Emma's mother, Kathryn, said the advice she and the other girls' parents had given had paid off.
"Every day now, especially with what's going on in England, I just tell them to be aware, to go in groups, not on their own," she said.
"They're very aware, thank God, they've been watching the news every day."
She added: "You have to make sure you know who they're with, that they have their mobiles, and that they stay around the area.
"But you have to give them their freedom, too. I'm pleased they're going back to school soon."
Ciara praised the girls' school, St Anne's National School, which she said had an excellent Stay Safe programme something a quarter of primary schools do not have.
Ciara said she hoped that publicity of what had happened in England would highlight the problem.
"I'm quite pleased with the coverage. It will help get the message out there that our children, particularly our daughters, are very vulnerable to this."
The incident follows at least three attempted abductions in Dundalk involving five girls ranging in age from nine to 12.
Gardai there know the man responsible and are searching for him.
