Gardaí searching for the man they believe abducted an eight-year-old girl yesterday have been amazed at the public response to an appeal for information.
Mary Maughan, from Kildomney, Moate, was seen being bundled into a green Toyota Corolla car near her home by a man in his 30s shortly after 4 p.m. She was later found unhurt but deeply traumatised.
Detective Paul Cuttle, from Athlone Garda Station told ireland.comthere had been a tremendous number of people coming forward today to assist the gardaí in their inquiries.
Ongoing interviews with Mary are taking place, although Det Cuttle stressed that the girl was still very traumatised and getting a full account from her could take a number of days.
A second strand of the investigation was examining other attempted abductions for similarities although, to date, no specific matches had emerged, added Det Cuttle.
Mary apparently escaped from the man and was found by a passing journalist from the Starnewspaper, searching with the girls' cousin. She got away when her kidnapper stopped to go to the toilet.
Her mother Ms Kathleen Maughan (34) told RTÉ radio this morning the man snatched her daughter after asking her for directions on the country lane, less than 200 yards from her home.
"He overpowered her. She started screaming when he abducted her. He threw her into the car and her nose hit the window and she went through a bit of an ordeal," she said. "I think he may have slapped her or hit her but she has no bruises."
"He got out of the car to go to the toilet and she jumped out and climbed over a wall and hid. He was looking for her but she got away," she said.
A Garda spokeswoman said they are seeking a man in his 30s, about 5’4", who was driving a dark green Toyota saloon car with the letters OY in the registration.
He had short black hair, was clean-shaven and was wearing a blue top. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garda at Athlone on 0902-92609 or the incident room at Moate Garda Station on 0902 81106.