Parents warned after child approached by stranger in van

PARENTS in a large Cork town have been warned to be extra vigilant after a school child was approached by a stranger in a van.

The principal of a primary school in Carrigaline texted parents yesterday alerting them to the incident which occurred near another school in the town.

It is understood a school-going child was approached by a stranger driving a red van late last week near the child’s school. It is not clear whether an attempt was made to snatch the child.

The child was not injured but was left very shocked by the approach.

Authorities in the child’s school became aware of the incident and they contacted other schools in the town.

Catherine O’Neill, the principal of St John’s NS, said once she became aware of the incident, she took the decision to text the parents of children in her school yesterday to inform them.

“Thankfully, the child was not harmed in this incident last week,” she said.

“We don’t want to alarm parents — just to encourage them to be extra vigilant.”

She also directed teachers at St John’s to deliver a special SPHE lesson to pupils on talking to strangers and personal safety.

While gardaí have received no formal complaint about last week’s incident, they have investigated the matter and are satisfied it was an isolated incident.

However, parents have been warned to speak to their children about the dangers of talking to parents, and to report any suspicious activity.