Woman, 60s, questioned in relation to alleged assault on child at Cork creche

Gardaí investigating an alleged assault on a child at a creche in Co Cork are preparing a file for the DPP after arresting a woman in her 60s today for questioning.

The woman, who was arrested this morning, was taken to Mayfield Garda Station where she was detained for the day under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

She was later released without charge and a file will now be prepared for the DPP.

A garda spokesman said because of the sensitive nature of the investigation, no further information will be provided at this time.

Details of the investigation were first reported by the Irish Examiner last month when it emerged that the creche owner had written to parents to inform them that Tusla had launched an investigation following allegations made by a former employee against a member of staff.

The creche owner told parents that while the allegations are very serious, they are “completely untrue, false and unfounded”.

In the correspondence, seen by the Irish Examiner, the creche owner said the former staff member worked at the creche for just a few days and that legal proceedings have now been initiated against the former worker.

Tusla, the child and family agency, which is liaising with gardaí as part of the investigation, said at the time that it does not comment on individual cases as it may “prejudice any enforcement or prosecutorial action”.

But it is understood that Tusla representatives contacted the parents of the child at the centre of the assault allegation within a day of receiving the complaint.

Once the parents were made aware of the nature of the complaint, they took their child to a hospital for a range of assessments, including an MRI scan, amid concerns about a possible concussion.

Tusla has also contacted a number of parents of other children who were in the care of the creche at the same time, requesting their assistance in the investigation.

The creche continues to operate as normal.

In a statement issued by a PR firm on its behalf after the news broke, the creche said its service is committed to the safeguarding of children in its care and to providing a safe environment in which they can play, learn and develop.

“The daycare has stringent child protection policies, in which all staff have been extensively trained,” it said.

“Our policy applies to all paid staff, volunteers, committee/ board members and students on work placement within our organisation and all must sign up to and abide by our policies, procedures and guidance.”

The owner said having undertaken their own investigations on the allegations, they have collated witness statements from all current staff disputing the allegations made to Tusla.

“All of my staff, including myself, are 100% behind the staff against whom the allegations are being made and we are in agreement that these allegations are inaccurate,” the owner said.