Garda investigation into attempted abduction of girl

GARDAÍ say they’re treating seriously claims that a man tried to abduct a 10-year-old girl as she was waiting outside a school for her parents to collect her.

A garda spokesman said that while they don’t want to alarm parents, it is vital that they remain vigilant and try to ensure their children aren’t left unaccompanied for any length of time after schools close.

The warning came yesterday after it emerged that a man in his 30s, who was driving a blue hatchback car, tried to abduct the girl outside a school in Cork city last Tuesday afternoon.

Scoil Bhríde Eglantine, on Douglas Road, has written to all parents advising them of the incident and urging them to be punctual when collecting children.

In the letter the school says that the child was waiting to be collected from an after-school activity when she was approached by a stranger who tried to coerce her into his car.

“Thankfully the child refused and nothing serious happened,” the letter added.

“We are naturally having to treat this matter seriously and we are liaising with the school authorities, the child and her parents,” the spokesman said.

Gardaí are anxious to speak to anybody who was in the vicinity of the school between 3.30pm and 4.30pm last Tuesday, and who may have seen the man in the blue hatchback.

“He was the only person in the vehicle and we believe he was clean-shaven and had sallow skin. We are urging parents to be vigilant and if they spot something suspicious outside a school, or anywhere children are gathered, to notify their local garda station immediately. Apart from getting an accurate description of the person it is very important that they get the registration number of the car,” the garda spokesman said.

Any member of the public who has any information about the attempted abduction at Scoil Bhríde is asked to contact Douglas garda station at [phone], or Togher garda station at [phone].