UPDATED: March 6, 2015
We have reported on some very heroic children in the past, but this story is both incredible and terrifying.
A 12-year-old girl is reported to have escaped the clutches of a stranger yesterday after her 10-year-old brother raised the alarm.
According to sources, the little girl was approached and snatched from the street by a man driving a silver Nissan X-Trail 4x4, early yesterday in Cullahill, Co. Laois.
The little girl’s 10-year-old brother was nearby when the incident occurred and, incredibly, heroically jumped onto the back of the vehicle and raised the alarm by making as loud a fuss as he could.
The little girl then managed to get out of the vehicle and, joined by her brother, escaped the scene. The man is then reported to have fled.
Gardaí have now appealed for information, releasing photos of a similar vehicle to that used by the abductor, and urging locals with any information to come forward.
A statement released by the Gardaí read: “This vehicle is believed to have been involved in an alleged serious incident in Cullahill, Co. Laois on March 4, 2015 at approximately 11am. The male driver is described as approximately 6’2”, thin build, grey hair.”
“The vehicle was seen acting suspiciously in the area prior to the incident. This 4x4 was stolen in the Co. Kilkenny area on March 3, 2015,” they added.
This is absolutely terrifying, and really emphasises the importance of teaching our children about 'stranger danger', which has been urged by authorities many times.
UPDATE: March 6, 2015
More details surrounding the case have emerged within the past number of hours, after Gardaí managed to apprehend the culprit in the Castlecomer area of Kilkenny.
According to reports, the 35-year-old man is a convicted child sex offender who is on bail for robbery and wanted for other crimes. He is reportedly not on the sex offender’s register as his offence dates back to the 1990s, and he is considered highly dangerous.
Sources have revealed that the criminal became “especially volatile” in recent days, after a family row. He is said to have stolen the Nissan 4x4 jeep in which he attempted to abduct the child on Tuesday, before making his way to Laois on Wednesday morning.
He reportedly went on to beg a local priest for money, before making his way to the Cullahill area of the county shortly after. It was there that he attempted to lure three siblings – two boys and their sister – into the van.
When the children refused, he then lifted the 12-year-old girl (early reports had claimed she was just five years of age) and sat her in the vehicle. However, her brother proceeded to jump on the driver’s window, making as much noise as possible, so as to save his sister.
After escaping, the children then ran home and informed their father of the frightening incident, with authorities going on to send out alerts to locals for information on the vehicle.
After being apprehended in Kilkenny, the culprit was brought back to Portlaoise Garda Station for questioning. He has since been charged in connection with the attempted child abduction.
