An Garda Síochána has confirmed to Gript that they are making efforts to identify a man “allegedly subject of an assault” by a group of people on O’Connell Street last Sunday.
In response to a query from Gript Media An Garda Síochána said it “does not comment on material posted on social media by third parties, the context and veracity of which is unverified.”
However AGS says that “Gardaí responded to a public order incident on O’Connell Street on Sunday, 16th June 2024.”
A spokesperson said that the Gardaí “continue to make efforts to identify a male allegedly subject of an assault by a number of individuals and also identify all those persons involved” and are appealing to the public for assistance in that regard.
“An Garda Síochána would appeal to anyone in the O’Connell Street area on Sunday, 16th June 2024 and who observed this public order incident or who has video footage of this incident, to contact Store Street Garda Station at 01 666 8000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.”
The spokesperson told Gript that An Garda Síochána “is aware of suggestions of an inappropriate approach to children or attempted child abduction which led to this public order incident.”
“No incident of attempted child abduction or similar activity has been reported to An Garda Síochána.” they said.
Further to the allegations of attempted child abduction which were widely spread online An Garda Síochána says it is appealing to anyone who “directly observed any attempted abduction or inappropriate approach to a child, who has direct knowledge of any attempted abduction or inappropriate approach to a child occurring in the O’Connell Street area to contact Store Street Garda Station at 01 666 8000.”
They further stated that Under Section 7 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, “An Garda Síochána is the sole agency invested with the statutory role of preserving peace and public order. It is also An Garda Síochána’s statutory role to investigate crime and enforce enacted legislation.”
An Garda Síochána says it urges anyone “with information relating to any crime to immediately report it for it to be thoroughly investigated by Gardaí.
In emergency situations such as a crime in progress or when urgent Garda assistance is required, members of the public should always call 999/112.”