Gardai in Co Clare today resume their search for two men in a black jeep or car believed to have twice attempted to abduct children in the county.
Checkpoints were set up yesterday after two reports of what appeared to be linked attempted abductions, at Doonbeg and Tulla. A senior garda last night advised parents in the Co Clare area to be vigilant in the care of children.
Supt Gerry Kelly of Ennis Garda Station issued the warning after what he termed "suspicious approaches" were made by strangers to two young children.
Gardai said the approaches were similar and could very well be linked. Tuesday night's incidents follow three occasions earlier this month at Doonbeg, Kilkee and Clonlara, where children were approached by strangers.
Supt Kelly said the gardai now intend to carry out an in-depth examination of the previous incidents, along with Tuesday night's "suspicious approaches", in an effort to identify any common thread between them. While anxious not to cause panic, Supt Kelly advised parents to know where their children are at all times. "They should take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that their children are always accompanied. Under no circumstances should they be left to walk home alone from school, no matter how short that walk may be." According to Supt Kelly, the first incident on Tuesday night occurred at 7.05 p.m. in Tulla, where two men in a black jeep pulled up alongside a seven-year-old girl and tried to grab her. She ran away.
Supt Kelly said that two hours later, in Doonbeg, two men in a black car or jeep asked a seven-year-old boy to get into the car to help them find the Garda station. He ran away and was able to give descriptions of both men to gardai.
One is described as being in his 50s with black hair and glasses while the other is described as having brown hair and a denim jacket. Supt Kelly said checkpoints were established outside Ennis and Kilrush in an effort to apprehend the men. One of the incidents earlier this month also occurred in Doonbeg, where the two occupants of a red van approached a nine-year-old boy and offered him a lift. The car sped off in the Kilkee direction when the boy became alarmed.
The other two incidents occurred at the west Clare town of Kilkee and the east Clare village of Clonlara.
Gardai in Westport warned parents of young children in south Mayo last month to be vigilant, following two reports of attempted abductions in the Leenane area and in Westport town within a four-day period.
Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent, writes: In the past year the number of reported attempted abductions, particularly by young girls, has risen markedly. According to one Garda source, there have been more than 500 reported attempted abductions, almost all in rural areas. Garda investigations have found that in all cases there has been no evidence of an actual abduction.
