Tusla confirms girl in its care 'involved in a serious incident' as Gardai investigate alleged rape by asylum seeker
A 10-year-old Irish girl is alleged to have been sexually assaulted by a foreign national male, who is understood to be from Africa, at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on Monday morning
Tusla confirmed a girl in its care “was involved in a serious incident over the weekend”.
The statement comes as Gardaí are investigating the alleged rape of a little Irish girl by an asylum seeker at a Dublin Hotel housing IPAS applicants.
The 10-year-old Irish girl is alleged to have been sexually assaulted by a foreign national male, who is understood to be from Africa, at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin in the early hours of Monday morning.
In a late statement on Monday night, Tusla said a young girl in its care “absconded from staff whilst on a planned recreational trip with staff in the city centre”.
Having returned to a relative’s home before absconding again, the young girl was eventually located by An Garda Síochána and subsequently told Tusla staff that “she had been involved in a serious incident”.
“Tusla can confirm that a young girl, who was volunteered by her family into the care of the Agency in February of this year due to significant behavioural issues, was involved in a serious incident over the weekend,” the statement read.
“The young girl was living in a fully staffed, registered residential placement, provided by a funded partner in the community and voluntary sector. She absconded from staff whilst on a planned recreational trip with staff in the city centre.
“Staff immediately reported her missing to An Garda Síochána. 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.
“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 Síochána as part of their investigation, and it is not appropriate to share any further details at this time.”
The suspect in the alleged sexual assault, who was arrested at the scene, is understood to be an IPAS applicant himself.
In a statement to the Irish Mirror, Gardaí said: “A male (30s) has been arrested and is detained at a Garda station in the Dublin region.”
A small crowd of protestors gathered at the grounds of the hotel on Monday night. Garda Public Order Unit officers and other uniformed cops were also on site. Several people held tricolours and a banner that read “SOS: Save Our Saggart.”
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