Parents have been reminded to educate their teenagers and younger children about “stranger danger” after a suspected attempted abduction in a housing estate in Limerick, writes David Raleigh.
Gardaí are investigating an official complaint by the parents of a boy who said he was approached by a suspicious man who tried to lure him into his car by offering him money.
The incident occurred in The Grange, Raheen, around 5pm yesterday, the Garda Press Office said.
Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler, who lives in the estate, tweeted about the alert: “WARNING: Attempted Child Abduction reported in The Grange, Raheen by a man with curly hair driving a black car yesterday afternoon. They were lured by money to get into the car. Please share urgently.”
To see this post on Facebook, click here.
When contacted about the alert, the Fine Gael Councillor reminded parents to vigilant.
“It was in my own estate. I got to know it through my residents association. The locals wanted it put out there,” he said.
“What we were told is that (the boy) was on his way home and a car pulled up.
“The driver asked him to get in and he refused. The car drove off and did a U-turn, and came back to the boy.
“The man asked the boy to get in again. He made another comment to him, but the boy refused to get in, and he ran off and told his parents.”
Cllr Butler said: “He’s 13 years of age. There’s a green area there where all the young lads play soccer. It’s worrying.”
He said parents couldn’t patrol their children, especially young teenagers, 24 hours a day.
He warned: “At that age you’d expect to leave them off on their own.”
“That’s the important message…to alert kids and parents, even if there young teenagers, that they need to be vigilant.”
“It’s the summer time. You allow you’re kids out to play soccer and at this time of the year, we often let your guard down.
“The key thing is to tell your kids that, if anybody approaches them to go straight home.”
“We have to empower the young person.”
Gardaí are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 061-214340.
