Dublin – A man in his 30s has been arrested by An Garda Síochána and is currently being questioned by officers investigating the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in West Dublin over the weekend.
The alleged incident was reported to have taken place in the vicinity of the Citywest Hotel complex in Saggart, an area recently designated for the accommodation of international protection applicants.
Victim in State Care: Crucially, reports indicate that the young girl at the centre of the investigation had been in the care of Tusla (The Child and Family Agency) when the serious incident occurred. Tusla confirmed that the child had been voluntarily placed in their care earlier this year due to “significant behavioural issues.” She reportedly absconded from staff during a recreational trip in Dublin city centre before later informing staff that she had been involved in a serious incident. She was subsequently located by Gardaí.
Detention and Ongoing Investigation: The arrested man is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Dublin Garda station, allowing for questioning for up to 24 hours. Gardaí have confirmed they are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and are appealing for witnesses who may have been in the City West Drive, Garter Lane, or Luas Stop areas between Sunday night and early Monday morning.
The incident has prompted public gathering and concern in the local Saggart community, though Gardaí have urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information.
