Fears as number of child abductions hits all-time high of 111

CHILD abductions reached an all-time high last year with 111 new cases.

But child abduction experts yesterday warned the statistics were incomplete as they failed to include youngsters taken to Muslim countries and not returned.

Department of Justice figures showed an increase of 15% in abduction cases in 2006, with a rising number relating to new accession states in Europe. The increase was largely related to the abduction of children into this country, which grew in numbers, as opposed to the taking of minors to other states from Ireland which fell.