Gardai hunt for child's abductor

A major garda hunt is on the way across the midlands for a man who abducted an eight-year-old girl near her home in Moate, Co Westmeath yesterday.

Mary Joyce managed to escape from her abductor and was found close to her home just before 9pm last night.

The distressed child was found less than a mile from her home by a journalist from the Star newspaper and one of her relatives.

She told gardai she made her escape after her abductor had left the car briefly.

Mary Joyce had said she was unharmed and her abductor, who she said she didn't know, had told her he was taking her to Longford.

Gardai are now trying to ascertain where she may have been taken for the five hours before her escape.

Last night she underwent a full medical examination before being reunited with her family.

Superintendent Kevin O'Donoghue of Athlone garda station, who is setting up the investigation, is appealing for information from the public about the man.

He is described as being around 5ft 4ins tall, aged between 30 and 35 years, with black hair and clean-shaven.

He was wearing a blue top, blue trousers or jeans and driving a dark green Toyota Corolla.

Anyone with information is asked to contact tha gardai at Athlone (0902-92609) or any garda station.