Gardaí on alert as man offers lift to girls

GARDAÍ have asked parents to be vigilant following two reports that a man in a dark green car approached young girls in suspicious circumstances.

The man, it was claimed, offered to give the girls a lift. Gardaí, for operational reasons, have not disclosed the ages of the girls.

The first approach was made near the village of Urhan last Monday morning and, the following day, another girl was approached near Eyeries, on the Beara Peninsula in west Cork.

A Garda spokesman said the driver, who was described as being in his early-to-late-30s with dark brown hair, didn’t attempt to drag the girls into the vehicle.

The spokesman said gardaí didn’t want to alarm parents but, at the same time, wanted them to be aware of the situation.

At 11am on Monday, the man made an approach to a young girl who was walking alone near Urhan on the Beara Peninsula.

The second approach was made at approximately 8pm on Tuesday, again to a young girl who was on her own, but this time a couple of kilometres away at the village of Eyeries.

That girl told her parents who contacted the gardaí. It is understood she didn’t provide a full description of the man, but made reference to a green car.

Gardaí are not positive that the incidents are connected, but the sighting of the green car, believed to be a saloon, makes them think it may be the same man.

A senior Garda spokesman said they would describe both incidents as “suspicious approaches”.

“However, there may be an innocent explanation to this,” the spokesman added.

Gardaí are anxious to hear from anybody who may have come across any similar incidents in the west Cork region.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Bantry Garda Station at 027 20680, or Bandon Garda Station, the regional Garda headquarters, at [phone].