Paedophile ring feared in the North

A detective is to head a major inquiry into a new outbreak of attempted child abductions throughout Northern Ireland, RUC revealed today.

A detective is to head a major inquiry into a new outbreak of attempted child abductions throughout Northern Ireland, the RUC revealed today.

A register of sex offenders and paedophiles is to be studied by a detective sergeant from the Force Intelligence Bureau Unit who is co-coordinating the investigation.

Inspector Mark Kernohan, who has been investigating incidents in north Belfast, said the recent rise in attempts to kidnap children was extremely worrying.

‘‘We have got to treat them as very serious. We can’t afford to let a child get into a car with these people,’’ he said.

In the past two weeks, the RUC has received nine reports of people attempting to entice children into a red car.

The majority of attempted kidnaps have been in the Greater Belfast area, sparking concern that a determined group of paedophiles is involved.

Mr Kernohan added: ‘‘Certainly, that it is the same group of people is one line of inquiry that we are following.’’

In a number of the cases, children have given a similar description of the man involved. He has been described as around 30 and clean shaven with short, dark hair.

In three of the incidents the man was joined by a woman also aged around 30 with blonde, curly hair.

Although reports have been mainly from the Belfast area, there have two attempts to abduct children in Loughgall, Co Armagh and Downpatrick in Co Down.

Mr Kernohan said the RUC were ‘‘pulling out all the stops’’ to catch those responsible.

He warned parents to watch out particularly for strangers waiting in a small red car outside their children’s schools.

‘‘Unfortunately, we are not able to get a registration number but the car seems to be coming through as a red vehicle and I will be asking parents to be on the lookout,’’ he said.