Gardaí issue warning after man seen acting suspiciously near young girls

GARDAÍ have warned parents to be vigilant after a man allegedly tried to entice a child into his car and later acted suspiciously in front of other children.

Gardaí said they were treating the alleged approaches seriously. They were made to three groups of girls who were playing in a Co Cork town on Monday night.

The incidents took place in the Deerpark area of Bandon between 8pm and 9.30pm. The man, who was driving a light-blue car, first drove up to two girls and engaged them in small talk. They left the scene unharmed.

“One of the girls said that at one stage the man pointed to the front seat of the car as though he wanted them to get into it,” Superintendent Richard Duggan said.

A short time later a man fitting the same description approached another couple of girls nearby and asked them where he could find a phone. Again the girls moved away from him.

During the third incident he approached other young girls and asked them some questions. In all cases the approaches were made to girls aged 8-10.

“There were three different incidents involving a man in a blue car which we regard as highly suspicious,” Superintendent Duggan said.

He said he couldn’t comment on whether there was any connection between Monday night’s incidents and another a couple of weeks ago in the nearby Innishannon area when a man enticed children into conversation by offering them sweets.

“We are always asking people to be vigilant. We are anxious to hear from anybody who may have information about these incidents or any other similar incidents which may have happened in the last few days,” Superintendent Duggan said.

The man was described as being in his 20s-30s with tightly cut dark hair and a growth of stubble on his face.

He said gardaí would treat information about the car or the man’s identity with confidentially.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Bandon garda station at 023-41145.