‘The man would not let her go’
GRANDMOTHER’S HORROR AS MAN TRIES TO GRAB HOLLIE (5) IN FRONT GARDEN
A SMALL child who was playing in her front garden in Camolin when she was grabbed by a man in his 40s was saved when her grandmother heard her screams.
‘He was going to take me away, he was going to take me,’ said Hollie Roche (5), who had been playing by herself in St Moling’s Terrace.
Ann Roche heard her granddaughter screaming at 5.20 p.m. and ran out to see what was the matter.
‘I heard her crying, screaming and shouting and only thought maybe she had hurt herself badly. But when I got out I could see a man holding onto her and he would not let go,’ said Ann.
After shouting at the man to put her down, he threw young Hollie to the ground and ran off on foot jumping over a wall at the top of the garden.
‘I grabbed her and ran inside and locked all the doors. We were so afraid and in shock but our main concern was trying to calm Hollie down,’ said Ann.
The man, described as in his 40s, black hair, over weight and wearing a red jumper, came into the front yard and approached Hollie before quickly snatching her.
‘We are very lucky nothing worse happened to her. The way the house is built we have the kitchen at the back and her mother was there washing dishes after dinner so I was the only one to hear her. I am just glad she screamed, we are just very thankful she is still here with us,’ said Ann.
The incident was reported to Gardai in Gorey who arrived shortly on the scene.
‘She was afraid to even talk to the Guards, she just kept saying “he was going to take me” to them. At one point when the Guards were talking she whispered in my ear and asked “they’re not going to take me away are they?”, she was too frightened to say anything,’ she said.
After Hollie calmed down she described what the kidnapper looked like to gardai – black hair, wearing a red top and was a big man.
‘ The Garda who was dealing with us was very kind and got her to relax a bit. I described what I saw too to them, it is a face that I will never forget. Every time I close my eyes I can see him holding onto my granddaughter. I am still not the best of it,’ said Ann.
Ann told this newspaper that Hollie is having recurring nightmares about what happened to her and is getting little sleep.
‘ The rest of the children on the street have not been out since this happened. All of our neighbours are being very cautious and have their front gates closed and doors locked,’ said Ann.
Sergeant Stephen Ennis of Gorey Garda Station reported that the situation is still ongoing and is being investigated.