Gardaí fear girl has gone into hiding with criminal

Limerick gardaí last night issued a major alert for a missing teenage girl who they fear has come under the control of a violent criminal.

The girl aged 17, has been missing for three weeks and gardaí believe a known criminal has gone into hiding with her in the Cork City area.

The girl, who is said to be vulnerable, has been missing since May 15 and was last seen in Limerick City.

Supt Daniel Keane of Henry Street Garda headquarters in Limerick said: “We are very fearful for the safety of this young girl.”

Gardaí believe the teenager travelled to Cork by bus and met with the man, aged 20, who comes from the Knocknaheeny area. He has a history of violence towards women and a number of criminal convictions.

Despite searches which have been concentrated in the Knocknaheeny area of Cork, there has been no sighting of either the man or the girl.

The girl has a love heart with stars tattoo on her right wrist and a piercing over her left eyebrow. She is 5ft8in, of medium build, and when last seen she had her brown hair pinned up in a bun.

A major alert has now been put out as gardaí fear for her safety. Gardaí suspect that she may have become infatuated with the man.

On the day she went missing, she was driven into Limerick city by a relative and was wearing dark jeans and a beige hoodie. She speaks with a slight English accent.

Supt Keane said anyone with information should contact gardaí at Henry Street, Limerick, on 061 212400, or any Garda station.