Gardai in Mullingar and Longford are to interview a 28-year-old midlands man again in connection with the disappearance of a 14-year-old pregnant girl on Tuesday. The girl turned up at Longford Garda station at noon yesterday and was returned to the care of the Midlands Health Board. The man, who accompanied her to Longford Garda station, is being investigated i in connection with alleged statutory rape.
Supt Tom Murphy of Longford gardai said the man was interviewed yesterday but not arrested, and an appointment had been made to interview him again.
"There is an ongoing criminal investigation and a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions," he said. The girl had been living at a Mullingar high support unit since a High Court referral last week. She was two weeks pregnant on her 14th birthday in May.
The girl complained of stomach cramps on Tuesday evening and was treated at a hospital. When she went into the car park in the company of two healthcare workers, a man in a car called her. They drove off together and the girl was declared missing. i said the two pair had been in contact with gardai throughout Wednesday by from a mobile phone.
"We managed to encourage them to present themselves at a Garda station. I don't think they were running away from anything. I think the fact is that she may not have liked the detention centre. They were just getting away from it. But we are just glad at this stage that both have arrived together safely." It is understood that the man contacted Longford gardai on Wednesday, saying he "would persuade the girl to come in".
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