Gardai confirm Dublin sighting of two missing Cavan teenagers

Gardai have confirmed a sighting of two 16-year-old Cavan girls missing from their homes since August 17th.

Gardai have confirmed a sighting of two 16-year-old Cavan girls missing from their homes since August 17th.

Mary O'Connor, from John Paul Avenue, and Caroline Kelly, from Wolfe Tone Street, were found sleeping on a bus near the Phoenix Park in Dublin on August 18th.

According to the Garda, the bus-driver called an inspector, and the girls told him they were from Longford and Cavan.

The pair said they had slept out overnight. The girls were brought by bus to Dublin city centre where they got off at Easons in O'Connell Street.

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"The inspector directed them to the social services offices," said a Garda spokesman. "We showed photographs of the young women to the busmen and they confirmed that they were the girls they had spoken to."

According to the busmen, the young women were extremely tired, and the driver had difficulty waking them up. They had no luggage and were dishevelled.

The girls were last seen in Cavan on August 17th when they boarded a bus at 11.30 p.m., which is thought to have taken them to Dublin.

While Mary had no money when she left home, it is understood that Caroline had taken £20 with her.

Friends of the Kelly family, who originally come from Co Longford, believe Caroline may have gone to England. She has left home on a number of occasions, but has always made contact with her family within a day or two of leaving.

Meanwhile, there has been a good response from the public to the Garda station in Cavan, following an appeal for information on the missing duo.

Gardai are currently investigating a number of possible sightings, both in Dublin city and Cork.

They have also asked for help in tracing the girls from police services in the UK.