Three persons, each accused of abducting two minors from Belfast before absconding to Co Tipperary in the Irish Republic, have been refused bail at Nenagh District Court earlier today, May 27th 2021.
The two boys, both brothers aged 5 and 8, the subject of two protection orders sought by the Social Services in Northern Ireland, vanished from their home in Belfast Northern Ireland on May 14th last.
Their disappearance led to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) issuing an alert for their safe return, which saw their pictures shown across a number of social media platforms.
Assistance by the PSNI was sought from the Gardaí when it was indicated that the minors had travelled across the border into the Irish Republic.
The boys have since been found safe and well, at a house here in a Thurles estate, on Tuesday afternoon last; both in the company of three adults, latter who held addresses in Belfast.
The three accompanying adults were arrested by Gardaí, before each being charged with two counts of child abduction, contrary to Section 17 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, 1997, on May 25th, 2021.
We understand that the two boys were then taken into care by Tusla – The Child and Family Agency, before being returned to the care of Belfast Social Services.
Today, in court Gardaí objected to the three accused being released on bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the charges against them and the fear that the same accused would flee the jurisdiction of the Irish State.
Judge Elizabeth McGrath presiding stated that she was fully satisfied that the threshold for refusing bail had been met based on the charges and remanded all three accused in custody, to appear in again in court via video link on Wednesday June 2nd next.
The identity of the minors is protected under law, as indeed is the identity of the three accused, since naming either could lead to the identity of the minors in question.
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