https://www.thesun.ie/news/6751380/man-acting-suspicious-child-teen-dublin-gardai/COPS ALERTED Gardai receive two reports of man acting suspiciously around teen girl and child in north Dublin on same dayEXCLUSIVE
Stephen Breen, Crime Editor
25 Mar 2021, 7:00
GARDAI have received two reports of a man acting suspiciously around a teenage girl and then a child on the same day.
The first occurred on Monday morning when a teenage girl walking to school was followed by a man in the Iona Road area of north Dublin.
On her walk, she made her way to a pal’s home after she became uncomfortable and the man walked on.
The teen later gave gardai the description of a man aged in his 30s and wearing a grey tracksuit.
The second incident happened on the Ormond Road area of Dublin 9 on the same day.
The Irish Sun understands a woman made a report to gardai that she believed she saw a man attempting to take a recording of her niece while he was sitting in a car.
The woman also described the man as being aged in his 30s to early 40s.
COPS INVESTIGATEGardai are now working to establish if it was the same man involved in both incidents reported to them.
Extra patrols have been put in place and although no formal investigation has been launched, gardai are continuing to monitor the situation.
One north Dublin school emailed parents to inform them of the fact an incident had been raised with cops.
They were told that gardai are “encouraging any such behaviour to be reported.”
But the email went on to state that they do not want to add to pupils’ worry at this time, reiterating that “it’s important to get the message across without alarming anyone.”
The school also asked that parents try to “keep the communication open” between them and their children.
As part of the steps the school is taking in response to this report being made, teachers at the school will be reminding them of the Stay Safe programme.
It is a personal safety skills programme designed for use with primary school children from junior infants through to sixth class.
When asked about the school’s statement, a garda spokesman confirmed: “Gardai received report of alleged incident which occurred in the Drumcondra area on 22nd March 2021. Enquires are ongoing.”
https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0325/1206128-clare-school-incident/Principal in warning after suspicious incident at Co Clare schoolUpdated / Thursday, 25 Mar 2021 15:23
A principal of a rural Clare primary school has warned parents to remain vigilant after a man allegedly tried to entice a schoolchild into his car yesterday afternoon.
Today, gardaí confirmed that they "are investigating reports of an alleged suspicious approach to a child that is reported to have occurred in the Clooney area outside Ennis".
A garda spokesman said that "enquiries are ongoing".
Clooney National School is around six kilometres east of Ennis.
In a note circulated to parents of the 72 children who attend the school after the incident yesterday, Clooney National School Principal Shane Greene relayed details of what is alleged to have happened earlier in the day.
He stated that "a male in a purple van spoke to a child at 3pm outside the school. He said to the child, 'Your Mam told me to pick you up'. Having unsuccessfully enticed the child into the car, the van drove away."
Mr Greene told parents: "This is an extremely serious and upsetting incident. I would ask that we all remain vigilant."
Mr Greene said that "parents should remind children not to leave the school grounds until their car is visible after school. Teachers will also do this and will be accompanying the children to the wall after school".
Mr Greene asked if anyone with dashcam footage or any further information to please contact Ennis Garda Station at 065 6848100.
Principal of another primary school, Barefield National School located on the outskirts of Ennis, John Burns has also circulated a note to parents of children there concerning the incident at Clooney.
Mr Burns told parents that he was alerting them "to this possible danger" out of a duty of care.
Mr Burns wrote: "Please note the correct procedure for notifying the school if you are aware of any such incidents is through the Principal."
