Male creche worker arrested over ‘abuse’

Man in his 20s released after Garda questioning

A CHILDCARE worker has been arrested over the alleged sexual abuse of two young children at a creche, the Irish Daily Mail can reveal.

The man, who is in his 20s, was arrested in Co. Kildare last Tuesday. He was detained for several hours and quizzed over the alleged sexual abuse of two children, aged under six, in a Kildare creche.

He was released without charge while gardaí prepare a file for the DPP.

The Mail understands that the childcare employee was suspended as soon as the allegations came to light.

In December, the Irish Daily Mail reported that gardaí were investigating a claim of sexual abuse. This week, the Garda Press Office said: ‘On June 20, 2017, gardaí arrested a male in his mid-20s. He was detained at Naas Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and released without charge.’

The Mail understands that the sex-abuse allegations relate to a two-year period – 2015 and 2016 – and are being treated with the ‘utmost seriousness’ by investigating gardaí and the creche.

Parents of two children made formal complaints to gardaí in December, alleging that their children had been sexually abused by the employee.

The case has caused huge upset among parents in the area where the creche is located, sources say.

The allegations are also being investigated by Tusla.

The Mail previously revealed that interviewers specialised in dealing with children interviewed all the children who attended the creche.

Sources say this process has been challenging as many of the children are under the age of three. However, some of the children are older as this creche, like many others in the field, offers after-school minding facilities.

All parents with children at the creche were informed of the investigation. Sources say this ‘naturally caused huge upset’. A source said: ‘This has been a significant investigation into very serious allegations. It culminated in the arrest last week.’

While there have been documented cases of physical abuse of children at creches in the past, accusations of sexual abuse are rare.

The current case has been ‘painstaking’ because of the age of the children involved. Determining if, how and when any young child may have been assaulted ‘took, and continues to take, a considerable amount of time’ given the age of the children attending the creche, sources say.

A source explained that the children who had contact with the staff member were taken to a ‘safe location’. The children were then observed.

Interviews with parents to establish if their children were ‘acting out’ were also key.

A source explained: ‘It is now a matter for the DPP.’