Man attempted to abduct teen cyclist near home

GARDAÍ are closing in on a man who attempted to abduct a 13-year-old girl as she cycled near her home in rural Co Offaly.

The Irish Examiner understands that the investigation by local gardaí, backed up by a specialist national sex offenders unit, is “advanced”, but investigators are still appealing for sightings of the van and the suspect.

The incident happened at about 8.30pm on Tuesday at Moyclare, a townsland near Ferbane town.