Unidentified teen held for her own safety
A young girl believed to be 13-years-old has been remanded in custody for her own safety to allow an investigation into her identity to be carried out following her arrest for a trespassing offence.
The girl was brought before the Dublin Children’s Court after her arrest yesterday in Blanchardstown.
Garda Karen Ryan told Judge Miriam Malone the girl had given her name, age and date of birth but when gardaí went to the address named by the girl they were told by the occupants that no one with her family name lived there and neighbours had not heard of them either.
In court the girl said that she was not attending school. She said that she had given the gardaí her father’s mobile telephone number and other details about her family.
Garda Ryan said that the man she spoke to by telephone claimed to be the girl’s father but he said his family lived at a different address to that stated by the girl.
He also told the Garda that his daughter was in school and gave details about his family which differed from the girl’s account.
The man said he could not go to court because he was away from Dublin with his wife.
The girl had said previously that her father was at work and she believed her mother was at home.
The man also said to the Garda over the telephone that one of his adult children would come to the Children’s Court to collect the girl. However, an hour later no one arrived.
The girl had also named a school which she claimed she had previously attended and also mentioned the name of one of her former teachers.
When the school was contacted they neither heard of the girl or the teacher.
Judge Malone remanded the girl in custody pending efforts to establish her identity, "purely in her welfare and interest".
She also ordered the girl’s father had to come to court with identification for himself and his daughter.
