It was an incident that sent shockwaves around the entire country and chills down every parent’s spine, and the details of an attempted abduction in County Laois last March are still as upsetting this week.
Michael Martin, from Waterford, appeared at Portlaoise Circuit Court earlier today, to answer to a charge of the false imprisonment of an 11-year-old girl in Cullohill earlier this year.
The court heard how the little girl and her 10-year-old twin brothers were playing in a rural area when they were approached by 36-year-old Martin, who was driving an SUV. Martin proceeded to pick the little girl up and put her into the vehicle through the windows.
However, as was widely reported at the time, the girl was saved by the actions of her younger brother, with the 10-year-old reaching up to the driver’s window and attempting to ‘strike’ Martin. He then continued to ‘hang off’ the side of the SUV and, once his sister had escaped, he ran back towards home with his siblings.
Gardaí praised the three “exceptional children” during today’s hearing, stating that their quick-thinking actions had not only saved the little girl from harm but had proven pivotal in helping to catch Martin.
Martin pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and is due to appear in court for sentencing next week.
