Garda∅ in Co Cork are investigating three alleged abduction attempts involving young girls in Skibbereen, Youghal and Cobh, over the holiday period.
The Skibbereen incident last Sunday involved two young girls who were playing near their homes in a new housing estate on the Baltimore road between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. One of the girls was approached by a man wearing a balaclava, who put his arm around her and a hand over her mouth as he tried to drag her away.
When the second girl screamed, the man ran off. He was described as wearing black clothes and in his 20s or 30s. Garda∅ have conducted house-to-house interviews and have asked for the public's help in trying to identify him. Sgt Liam Cahill said every aspect was being investigated and the matter was being treated very seriously.
The Youghal investigation concerns a report that a girl playing in the Raheen road area of the town was approached by a man in a dark-coloured saloon car at about 1.30 p.m. on Sunday. The man is understood to have called the girl over to the car, but she took fright and ran away. Sgt John Gaine said the child was never closer to the car than 50 feet and there was no physical contact between her and the driver. He said Youghal garda∅ were keeping an open mind. Reports of a second attempted abduction incident in the town had been discounted, he added.
In Cobh, garda∅ are investigating an incident which occurred on the evening of December 26th near Carrignafoy. A man in a Cork-registered black saloon car approached a young girl, but she ran away and alerted her parents, who contacted the Garda. Sgt John Quinn of Cobh Garda station has appealed to anyone who was in the area between 7.15 p.m. and 8.15 p.m. on St Stephen's night to come forward. In a previous abduction attempt last month, a man who had been riding a motorbike ran after a young girl, also in the vicinity of Carrignafoy.
In Cork city, another reported abduction attempt on Christmas eve in the Mayfield area is being investigated by garda∅.
Garda sources in Cork say no link has been established yet between the incidents. The Garda can be contacted in Skibbereen at 028- 23088, in Youghal at 024-92200 and in Cobh at 021-481 1333.