Romanian girl, 13, living with ‘uncle’ may be taken into care

FEARS were raised last night that children are being exploited here after gardaí were told they may have to take a Romanian girl into emergency care.

Judge Patrick McMahon in Dublin Children’s Court was told the 13-year-old girl was living with a man who claimed to be her uncle and guardian, that her parents were still in Romania, and she came here on a “holiday” for an “indefinite” period and had no passport.

She faces three charges for attempted thefts in Dublin.

Garda Alan Bradley said concerns had been raised over the man’s identity.

Gardaí contacted Romanian authorities who said if he had travelled with the girl legitimately, he would have to possess a “certificate of power of attorney” before travelling. He said this man did not have this certificate or a passport and only held photocopied identity cards.

The judge said unless the documents were originals they meant nothing.

Gina Cleary, solicitor for the HSE, told Judge McMahon it could assess whether there were child welfare concerns regarding the girl.

Judge McMahon said he wished he had more powers to protect the girl. “The reality is that if I had a facility to keep this young child out of harm’s way I would put her in it, but I don’t.”

He said gardaí may have to make an application under the Childcare Act for an emergency care order to protect her welfare.

The judge was familiar with the girl’s address, saying it seems it has been used by numerous other people coming before the courts.

Mary Nicholson, advocacy manager for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said children are being trafficked here and authorities had to investigate every case where there was the suggestion this could be taking place.

While the society does not comment on individual cases, it appealed to anybody working with vulnerable children to stay alert for tell-tale signs of trafficking, especially where children travel without their parents.

“It is good to see the state willing to intervene where there is a child who is at risk of trafficking. There are a number of things people should be aware of such as children travelling without documentation, or their story just doesn’t add up or they say one thing and the people with them say something else or the child’s behaviour and demeanour is not comfortable.”

The girl was remanded on bail to appear again in four weeks. Her bail conditions are to stay out of Dublin 1 and 2 and obey a curfew between 7pm and 7am.