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The Australian federal police are investigating whether a teenage girl found in a distressed state in Ireland may have links to Australia, following a request for information from Irish authorities.
The AFP confirmed it had received a request via Interpol in relation to an investigation into a teenage girl found alone in Dublin last month.
The girl was found alone wandering O'Connell Street in Dublin on 10 October in a “distressed state”. Ireland's National Police Service have taken the rare step of applying to the Irish high court to identify the girl on their website.
"Any information is vital to the investigation, and the welfare of the child. Any information passed to us, will of course be treated in the strictest of confidence," the Irish National Police statement reads.
"She is described as being [168cm] in height, slim build and having long blonde hair. When found she was wearing a purple hooded top, tight dark coloured jeans, flat black shoes and a grey woollen jumper. These clothes may have been bought in Ireland."
An Australian Federal Police spokesperson said that "the AFP can confirm that it has received a request for assistance via Interpol from Irish authorities this morning".
"The AFP, in conjunction with appropriate state police forces, are assisting Irish authorities with this request."
It is not clear whether the girl is thought to be Australian. The spokesperson said that "as this matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate for the AFP to comment any further."
Irish people have undertaken an exhaustive search to identity the girl, which has taken over 2000 hours and 115 lines of inquiry.
Orla Ryan, a guardian ad litem who works in child protection and residential care, said: “I am extremely concerned about the welfare circumstances of this young person. What we know about her, at present, is limited. It is in the child’s best interests to be identified, and I fully support An Garda Síochána in their continuing investigation.”
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