A 10-year-old girl was removed from a house in Dublin yesterday by gardaí who suspect she was smuggled into the State following an arranged marriage abroad, writes Nuala Haughey, Social and Racial Affairs Correspondent
The child was placed in care last night after immigration gardaí found her in a house in Tallaght, west Dublin, with an 18-year-old man.
The two people, members of the Roma minority from Romania, were asleep in the man's family home when detectives from the Garda National Immigration Bureau and health board officials visited the premises early yesterday.
Gardaí suspect that the minor may have been smuggled into Ireland in recent months, but do not believe that traffickers were involved.
The girl was brought briefly to hospital yesterday and then placed in care after a court application, a Garda source said last night.
"She was removed from the house for her own safety. It's early days yet but we are investigating a suspected arranged married with a minor," said the source.
No arrests were made at the house where a total of five adults live, as gardaí have not received any complaint. They intend to question the girl further.
The man found with the girl was released on bail this week from St Patrick's Institution, which adjoins Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.
He is believed to be facing charges in relation to the theft of mobile phones.
A source within the Romanian community said the girl was married to the man late last year in Romania in a church service, as the State does not permit minors to marry.
"After that they managed to move the girl to live in Ireland and the family all live together," he added.
The Roma tend to marry young and arranged engagements and marriages are still practised. In some cases, a payment is made by the family of the groom to the bride's family, a practice aimed at compensating them for the loss of a daughter and guaranteeing that she will be treated well.
Marriage in the Romani culture has occurred as early as the age of nine, but usually does not take place before the age of 14.