Gardaí have arrested a man in his 20s Tusla says victim “absconded” while on trip to city centreProtest took place at Citywest on Monday night
Gardai form a cordon across the entrance to Citywest Hotel, Saggart tonight as a small group of protesters remonstrate after an earlier alleged incident …..Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.
Gardai form a cordon across the entrance to Citywest Hotel, Saggart tonight as a small group of protesters remonstrate after an earlier alleged incident …..Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.
Gardaí at the scene this morning
A young girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted in west Dublin was missing from Tusla care at the time.
The 10-year-old has been in the care of the agency since February but “absconded from from staff whilst on a planned recreational trip with staff in the city centre” over the weekend.
In a statement Tusla said the child was involved “in a serious incident”.
Gardaí are investigating the alleged sexual assault in the Saggart area of Dublin on Sunday night.
The incident happened at the entrance to the old Citywest Hotel complex which is being used to house international protection applicants. A protest took place outside the hotel on Monday night.
An area immediately outside the main entrance was cordoned-off by gardaí after the incident was reported, and a car park to the front of the complex was also taped-off pending a forensic examination by members of the garda technical bureau.
A man in his 20s has been arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Garda Station in the Dublin region.
A garda spokesperson said investigations into the alleged assault are ongoing.
Gardai form a cordon across the entrance to Citywest Hotel, Saggart tonight as a small group of protesters remonstrate after an earlier alleged incident …..Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.
A spokesperson said An Garda Síochána was also aware of reports of a fatal stabbing which it said are incorrect.
Tusla said the young girl was living in a fully staffed, registered residential placement, provided by a funded partner in the community and voluntary sector.
After she went missing, staff immediately made a report to An Garda Siochana.
“She was later found to have returned to a relative’s home, again absconding from that house later in the evening. She remained in phone contact with staff but would not identify her precise location.
“She subsequently told staff that she had been involved in a serious incident,” the Tusla statement said.
“Staff did eventually ascertain her location through details she provided, and alerted AGS who did locate her.
“Our priority now is on supporting the young girl and her family and liaising with An Garda Siochana as part of their investigation, and it is not appropriate to share any further details at this time.”
