Boy found safe after manhunt
A FATHER is in custody over the false imprisonment of his young son after he took the little boy away from the child’s mother in the midst of a blazing row, sparking a major Garda manhunt.
In a rare move, gardaí issued an urgent CRI alert early yesterday morning after the three-year-old was reported missing from his home in Bunclody, Co. Wexford.
Gardaí appealed for the general public’s help to find the boy and his father, and released photos of father and son as well as a picture of the man’s car.
The 30-year-old took his son from the home the toddler shares with his mother in Bunclody at about 1.15am. It is understood the man had became involved in an argument with the mother of his young son and left with the young boy in the midst of this row. Gardaí are also investigating an alleged assault as part of the same incident.
The manner in which the boy was taken from his home sparked concern and gardaí were contacted. The parents of the toddler do not live together and are no longer in a relationship.
Gardaí issued the alert to the general public seeking assistance just before 7am. The father and son were found safe and well at a house in the Bunclody area at around 7.45am. The Irish Daily Mail understands an individual well-known to the father contacted gardaí to inform them of the address where the man and his son could be found.
The young boy was completely unharmed, though he was taken to hospital as a precaution. The father was arrested on suspicion of the false imprisonment of a child. He remained in custody at Enniscorthy station last night.
Gardaí issued the CRI alert because they believed there was an immediate and serious risk to the health and welfare of the boy. They later thanked the public, media and other agencies for their assistance after the child was found safe and well.
Gardaí also asked that the privacy of the family be respected, and said that owing to the nature of the incident, no further information could be shared.
The CRI system was launched in 2012, and yesterday morning’s alert was just the seventh issued since it was put in place.
CRI alerts involve gardaí supplying information such as the name and description of missing children and the adults they are with, along with details of where they might be or the kind of vehicle in which they are travelling.