Gardaí in North Tipperary and Offaly have warned parents to be extremly vigilant, following the attempted abduction last night of a 13-year-old girl, near the town of Ferbane, Birr, Co.Offaly.
Superintendents in both counties are said to be extremely concerned about this particular incident and are using this opportunity to create greater public awareness of such dangers, considering the fact that all children are currently enjoying school holidays and are possibly therefore subject to greater unsupervised public freedom than is usual.
Parents in the area are warned that they should be aware of their children’s whereabouts at all times, and children should communicate to their parents, if they decide to change already conveyed planned destinations.
The 13 year old teenage girl is understood to have been cycling to the home of a friend, close to Moyclare in Ferbane, at approximately 8.30pm last night when a white van, described as similar to a van used by An Post, pulled up alongside her. The driver, understood to be a male, then attempted to pull her into the vehicle. Following a struggle, the girl escaped, sustaining some minor injuries, before running to a neighbouring house to raise the alarm.
The man being sought by Gardaí is described as being middle aged, low in stature, with dark hair and wearing glasses.
Gardaí are actively appealing for witnesses or any other information the public may have on the movements of the driver and the white van involved in this assault. Anyone operating security CC TV anywhere in this area are asked to check their system, with a view to identifying the movement of white coloured vans.
Gardaí also confirm that they are following a number of lines of inquiry at this time.
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