asked the Minister for Justice if any progress has been made in the investigation into the alleged abduction of a 15-year old girl (details supplied) from Dunmore East, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Waterford Alleged Abduction.
24.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 561 of 24 June 1982 in which I referred to the impracticability of furnishing reports to the House about the progress of individual Garda investigations. However, I think it only right to add in regard to this particular case that the girl in question was in touch with her family since she was reported missing. The contact was made from outside the State and, accordingly, the matter is in large measure in the hands of another police force.
I do not know how up-to-date the Minister's reply is. That question has been on the Order Paper for some seven or eight months and I do not know if it has been updated. The information that the Minister has in his reply that the girl has been in contact with her family since she disappeared is absolutely incorrect and I have been asked by the family to state so here. I have heard that before but it is incorrect. I would like the Minister to tell me if possible if he is satisfied that the matter has been properly and fully investigated. It seems rather incredible that a girl of 15 years of age could disappear off the face of the earth. It is over a year now since her disappearance without trace.
Will the Deputy put that by way of a question please?
I am asking the Minister if the British police and Interpol were informed of her disappearance at a very early stage and if he is satisfied that every possible step in the investigation was taken.
I am satisfied that all the necessary steps were taken in this regard and I am also satisfied that the present position now means that the responsibility for this investigation is in the hands of another police force while at the same time the Garda are constantly keeping in contact to ensure that whatever is necessary from this side can be supplied at the shortest notice.
Is this an isolated case or are there many similar cases each year? Has the Minister any statistics on this?
I would not be in a position to give that information now. I am replying in regard to a specific case which the Deputy has raised and I can only give details as I know them about the case of which I am speaking.
Would the Minister make inquiries into what I raised earlier, that the part of his reply which stated that there was contact between the girl and her parents was incorrect?
That is valuable information and I am always delighted to have any information. Naturally I would have to establish the veracity of that, but the information that I have from official sources suggests that contact has been made between the girl and her family and it was suggested to me that the family have identified the location of the girl but not to the extent that the police were in a position to locate the girl.
Will the Minister check on that?
I will certainly, and I appreciate the Deputy's comments.